🌟 What to Do & Local Tips
Explore experiences and tips to get the most from your trip in Taiwan
Taiwan delivers night markets, marble gorges, and mountain forests. The food is the best street food in Asia. Taipei is dense and electric. The east coast is wild. The south is ancient and slow.
Hiking is everywhere — volcano trails above Taipei, marble canyon walks in Taroko, sunrise forests at Alishan. Hot springs after a long day. Night markets after dark. Tea houses above the clouds. Taiwan rewards those who dig deeper than the headline sights.
Spring and autumn are ideal for almost everything. Summer is for beaches and festivals. Winter is for food, culture, and the cities. Every season has a reason to come.
📍 Book Activities & Experiences
Taroko Gorge Day Tour from Taipei
One-day guided excursion to Taiwan's most dramatic landscape. Marble cliffs, turquoise rivers, suspension bridges, and tunnel trails. Small group departures from Taipei 5:30–6am, return by 9pm. From NTD 1,500–2,500 including transport.
More info →Jiufen & Shifen Sky Lantern Day Trip
Combine Jiufen's lantern-lit hillside village with Shifen's famous sky lantern launching. Half-day tours depart from Taipei regularly. Book with a guide for best stories and transport. From NTD 800–1,500.
More info →Taipei Night Market Food Tour
Walk Shilin, Raohe, or Ningxia night market with a guide who knows what to eat and why. Includes 8–10 food tastings — xiao long bao, stinky tofu, oyster omelette, bubble tea, pineapple cake. 2–3 hours. From NTD 800.
More info →Alishan Forest Railway Sunrise Tour
Take the forest railway at 3am to watch sunrise above the sea of clouds at Alishan. Ancient cypress forests, the narrow-gauge train, and one of Taiwan's most iconic views. Plan 1–2 nights in the area. Train tickets from NTD 250 for the mountain railway segment.
More info →⭐ Top Experiences in Taiwan
⭐ Night market eating
Raohe, Shilin, Ningxia, Liuhe in Kaohsiung. Come hungry, go late. NTD 40–200 per dish. The real Taiwan.
More info →⭐ Taroko Gorge hiking
Marble walls 1,000m high. Turquoise river. Half-day walk from Hualien. Most dramatic landscape in East Asia.
More info →⭐ Alishan sunrise
Forest railway at 3am. Cypress forest. Sea of clouds below. Ancient trees. One of Asia's great natural spectacles.
More info →⭐ Taipei 101 at dusk
89th-floor observation deck. City to mountains in every direction. Sunset is the best time. NTD 600 entry.
More info →⭐ Beitou hot spring
Sulphuric hot spring pools 30 minutes from Taipei centre. Public pools from NTD 200. Private rooms in hotels. Year-round.
More info →⭐ Jiufen village at dusk
Lantern-lit tea houses on the mountainside. Stay until after 6pm when day-trippers leave. Taro balls and oolong above the harbour.
More info →⭐ National Palace Museum
700,000 imperial Chinese artefacts. Jade cabbage, meat-shaped stone, Song dynasty paintings. Allow 3–4 hours. NTD 350.
More info →⭐ Sun Moon Lake cycling
Rent a bicycle at 7am and ride the 33km lake perimeter in the mist. Cafés open at 8. Taiwan's most romantic morning.
More info →⭐ Shifen sky lanterns
Write wishes on a paper lantern, light it, release it over the gorge. NTD 150–250. Magical year-round. 40 min from Taipei.
More info →⭐ East coast train journey
TRA Taipei to Hualien: 2 hours of cliffs, coast, and mountains. Most scenic train in Taiwan. Book 5+ days ahead for weekends.
More info →⭐ Elephant Mountain sunset
30-minute hike from Xiangshan MRT. Rock outcrops with direct view of Taipei 101. Start at 5:30pm for golden hour. Free.
More info →⭐ Lungshan Temple morning
Arrive at 8am. Incense smoke, morning prayers, gold-leaf carvings. Taipei's oldest temple, 1738. Free. Wanhua District.
More info →📋 Booking Tips
- Book TRA east coast trains early: Taipei–Hualien on weekends sells out 5–7 days ahead — book as soon as dates are confirmed
- Check typhoon season cancellations: June–October outdoor activities can cancel with 24-hour notice — use operators with flexible policies
- Accommodation fills fast for east coast: Taroko and Hualien area books weeks ahead on weekends — book early
- Alishan forest railway tickets: Buy via TRA app at least 2 weeks ahead for weekends; the mountain summit train for sunrise sells out first
- Read recent reviews: Taiwan operators are generally excellent — reviews confirm which guides speak English and group sizes
💡 Local Tips
Everything you need to know before you go
💡 Essential Info
NTD / NT$
New Taiwan Dollar
Mix of cash and card. Night markets and small stalls are cash only. Cards accepted in hotels, restaurants, and chain shops. ATMs at every 7-Eleven and FamilyMart accept international cards.
Mandarin Chinese
Good — younger Taiwanese and all tourist-facing staff speak English. Signs at MRT stations, airports, and national parks are bilingual. In rural areas and with older residents, Google Translate covers most situations.
+886
Emergency: 110 (police), 119 (fire/ambulance)
Excellent mobile coverage island-wide. Tourist SIMs at airport NTD 300–600 for 7–30 days unlimited data. eSIM options available. Free wifi in MRT stations, 7-Eleven, and most accommodation.
No vaccines required. Routine vaccines recommended.
Tap water safe to drink in Taipei and major cities. Most Taiwanese boil or filter tap water — follow local practice. Pharmacies everywhere. Hospital emergency rooms excellent and cheap (NTD 450–750 without insurance).
🤝 Cultural Tips
💵 Tipping
Not expected: Taiwan does not have a tipping culture. No tip at restaurants, taxis, or hotels. High-end restaurants may include a 10% service charge automatically. Never tip at night markets or casual restaurants.
👋 Greetings
Formal: Slight nod or bow, handshake acceptable in business contexts. Taiwanese are warm and friendly with foreigners.
Informal: "Nǐ hǎo" (你好) is universally understood. First names used in casual settings. Personal space is relaxed in crowded environments.
🍽️ Dining
Etiquette: Sharing dishes is standard in Taiwanese dining — food arrives as it's ready, not all at once. Toast by saying "Gān bēi" (乾杯) — bottoms up. Slurping noodles is completely normal.
Pace: Relaxed. Night markets and street stalls are fast and casual. Sit-down restaurants are unhurried. Leaving food on the plate is fine.
⏰ Punctuality
Importance: Punctuality is respected for business. Social gatherings are more flexible — arriving 10–15 minutes late is common and accepted.
Transport: HSR and MRT are extremely punctual — arrive 5 minutes early or you'll miss your train.
👔 Dress Code
General: Casual. Taiwan is hot and humid — light clothing. Modest dress when visiting temples (cover shoulders and knees). No shoes inside guesthouses and some traditional homes. Remove shoes when indicated at the entrance.
🚨 Safety & Health
- Taiwan is one of Asia's safest destinations — violent crime against tourists is extremely rare
- Keep emergency numbers handy: 110 (police), 119 (ambulance/fire)
- Purchase travel insurance covering medical emergencies and typhoon disruption
- Check CWA typhoon app daily June–October before outdoor plans
- Wear a helmet when renting scooters — it's the law and the roads are busy
- Mountain trails can be closed after typhoons — always check with national park before heading to altitude
💰 Money-Saving Secrets
- Night markets cost NTD 300–500 for a full dinner — the best food in Taiwan is the cheapest
- Convenience store meals (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) are NTD 50–150 and surprisingly good
- Use the EasyCard for MRT, buses, and YouBike — saves time and small transaction fees
- Buy HSR or TRA passes for multi-city travel — cheaper than individual tickets
- Visit Taroko, Alishan, and Yangmingshan national parks — all free admission
- Lunch sets (午餐, wǔcān) at local restaurants cost NTD 100–200 and include rice, soup, and a main dish
📅 Best Time to Visit
Spring
March–May ~ 18–26°C, low rainfall, clear skies
✅ Pros: Cherry blossoms at Yangmingshan (March), ideal hiking weather, Alishan with clearest views, comfortable temperatures everywhere, Matsu Pilgrimage (April)
❌ Cons: Peak accommodation demand — book early. Spring break crowds at Taroko and Alishan in April.
Summer
June–August ~ 30–36°C, high humidity, typhoon risk
✅ Pros: Beach season at Kenting and east coast. Hot Air Balloon Carnival in Luye (June–August). Lively outdoor festivals. Mountain areas remain cooler.
❌ Cons: Typhoon season — outdoor plans can cancel with short notice. Heat and humidity in cities. Book flexible cancellation policies.
Autumn
September–November ~ 20–28°C, clear skies after typhoons
✅ Pros: Perfect temperatures. Golden rice harvest at Chishang (October–November). Best mountain views. Lunar Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncakes and outdoor celebrations.
❌ Cons: Typhoon risk through September. This is peak season — Taroko and Alishan book out fast.
Winter
December–February ~ 10–18°C in Taipei, warmer in the south
✅ Pros: Kenting and Tainan stay warm and sunny. Lunar New Year celebrations. Hehuanshan snowfields sometimes accessible. Low crowds outside New Year period.
❌ Cons: Taipei gets grey and rainy. Lunar New Year (Jan–Feb) — festive but massive crowds and accommodation shortages nationwide.