Travel Taiwan • Asia | She is Wanderlust travel blog

Located in East Asia, Taiwan is an incredible country filled with breathtaking scenery, architecture landmarks, hospitable locals and vibrant culture, characterized by its delicious dishes, streets markets and nightlife. While it is only 245 miles (395 km) long, there is no shortage of things to do in here.

Why Visit Taiwan

LANDSCAPES

Taiwan was called “Ilha Formosa” (Beautiful Island) by the portugueses when first spotted in the 1500’s, and there is a reason for that (Taiwan is actually comprised by more than one island). The country is filled with beautiful landscapes and national parks, as well as beaches, mountains, volcanoes, canyons, waterfalls.. you name it. Lush tropical forest are everywhere to be found in here, with the Yangmingshan National Park just 7 miles (12 km) from Taipei.

ARCHITECTURE

You might have seen a picture of Taiwan somewhere already, especially of Taipei 101, the second tallest building in the world. Skyscrapers and modern buildings blend with the many temples (The Longsan and Guandu temples even have their own metro station!), and the ancient architecture of the aborigines, japanese and european, creating an unique sight for both locals and foreigners.

LOCALS

Taiwaneses are friendly and hospitable people. Even if they don’t speak your language, they will go above and beyond to try to help foreigners, and this is one of the main reasons why everybody loves Taiwan! Luckily, a lot of them will speak English.

CULTURE & CUISINE

Taiwanese culture is vibrant and colorful. They are a multicultural place, with over 16 tribes plus european, japanese and chinese influences. They are packed with festivals and celebrations, being the Lantern Festival one of the most popular ones. Their food is also a must try; with street markets on every corner, affordable and tasty food will follow you wherever you go. (Bubble tea was invented in here!)

Why Visit Taiwan

LANDSCAPES

ARCHITECTURE

LOCALS

CULTURE & CUISINE

Name: Republic of China
Capital: Taipei
Official Languages: Formosan Languages, Hakka, Hokkien, Mandarin, Matsu
Currency: New Taiwan dollar
Time Zone: UTC + 8

Name: Republic of China
Capital: Taipei
Official Languages: Formosan Languages, Hakka, Hokkien, Mandarin, Matsu
Currency: New Taiwan dollar
Time Zone: UTC + 8

Bucket list

What to expect

LANGUAGE

The formosan languages (aboriginal languages), and the Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, and Mandarin are the official languages of Taiwan. Of these three, Taiwanese Hokkien is the most widely spoken, with about 70% of the population speaking it. Taipei has a great number of English speakers, but that not the case outside the capital.

ELECTRICITY

The standard voltage is 110 V and the frequency is 60 Hz. That’s the standard voltage in America and some countries in Asia.

CURRENCY

The New Taiwan Dollar is the official currency in Taiwan. Foreign currencies are not accepted. You can exchange your currency at any authorised money exchanger, at the bank or at the airport. International credit cards such as VISA and MasterCard are accepted at many hotels, restaurants and train stations. Most of the small stores will only take cash. 1 USD equals 28.63 NTW (as of 2020).

SAFETY

Taiwan has a very low crime rate, and it is consider to be one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime is extremely rare. However, petty crime could in metropolitan areas like Taipei, so keep your eyes open.

CLIMATE

Taiwan enjoys a subtropical climate all year round (except for the southern part of the country which has a tropical weather). Summers are hot and humid, and winter are short and mild. Temperatures could decrease in the mountains, where you might even find snow. September to November would be the best times to visit as the temperatures are cool.

How to get around

By plane: Taiwan offers some domestic flights to connect the smaller islands with the main one, however, there has been a couple incidents that make traveling by air in Taiwan a little risky. Unless traveling to other islands, train is the most recommended way of travel.

By bus: Buses are a good option in Taiwan. They are the cheapest way of transportation, and cover a lot of ground. Almost all of them have air conditioned. Be aware that daily departures are limited in rural areas, so make sure to check the schedule before planning.

By train: Train is the best way to move around Taiwan if you are traveling across the country, as they are safe and reliable. They have an extensive network running along both east and west, connecting all major cities. Bullet train is also available between Taipei and Kaohsiung. There are two classes: standard and business.

By Metro: Metro networks are available in Taipei and Kaohsiung, the major cities in the Taiwan. They are clean, reliable and safe, and offer plenty of routes that will connect the entire city.

By ferry: Ferries routes are available from the main island to Little Liuchiu, Penghu, Lanyu and Green Island.

By car: Renting a car is my far the most convenient way to get around, especially if you are traveling across the country or visiting the mountains. Gas is widely available and roads are in good conditions (except for some rural areas or mountains). Be aware that traffic and drivers in Taiwan can be harsh. An international driver’s license is required.

Visa Policy

Nationals of the following countries can visit Taiwan without a visa for a stay up to 90 days: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Swatini, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu and the Vatican City.

Citizens of Singapore, Malaysia, Belize, Dominican Republic, Nauru, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines can visit the country without a visa for 30 days.

Russian citizens can stay in Taiwan for up to 21 days without a visa.

Citizens of The Philippines, Thailand and Brunei can visit the country visa -free for 14 days.

Visitors of all other countries are required to request a visa in advanced unless they meet certain requirements like a residence in another country of with an exit-entry permit.