A Taiwan Travel Guide
After more than two years in Taiwan, I want to share this Taiwan travel guide to help you prepare for your visit to this amazing country. You will find answers to the most important questions about what to know and plan before your trip.
I also have a longer page about traveling in Taiwan with much more information. This Taiwan travel guide is a lot easier and more comprehensive. Ideal for people looking for a quick guide to Taiwan. After reading this blog, you will be ready to visit Taiwan without a personal tour guide.
Spoiler: I never used any Taiwan travel book. I never used Lonely Planet, nor did I ever book a private tour in Taipei or any other city.
How to Travel Around Taiwan Without a Tour Guide
Taiwan is a modern country with various convenient ways to get around. Depending on your budget and time, it can make sense to hire a Taiwan tour guide. However, I never hired a travel guide
Major cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung have excellent public transportation systems, but you can also use taxis and Uber. Renting a car or a scooter is also a common option (bring a valid international driver’s license). However, to travel in Taipei, you really do not need a car.
A must-have for travelers is the EasyCard (Chinese: 悠遊卡 / YouYou Ka, literally leisurely traveling card), a prepaid smart card that can be used on the metro, almost all buses, and even some convenience stores.
You can purchase an EasyCard at any metro station, FamilyMart, or 7-Eleven. Simply charge it at a metro station or convenience store, and you are ready to go!
I recommend loading it with 200–500 NTD to start. If you plan to travel extensively within a single city, like Taipei, consider getting a monthly or weekly pass. For example, I used the Taipei City Pass, which costs 1,100 NTD per month and offers unlimited rides within Taipei and New Taipei City.
A guide to travel by Train and Bus in Taiwan
The EasyCard works on most regional trains and buses, but not on the High-Speed Rail (HSR). The High-Speed Rail runs along the west coast of the island and connects Taipei (Nangang, to be precise) with Kaohsiung. While it is more expensive than taking a bus, it is also very fast – for instance, the journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung takes only 1.5 hours. With a punctuality rate of over 99%, the trains are highly reliable and very comfortable.
At railway stations, most signs are in Chinese and English, and the staff generally speaks English, making it easy for foreign travelers to navigate. Long-distance buses, on the other hand, are usually cheaper but slower. There is this stereotype that some bus drivers tend to speed, as they may be fined for delays in Taiwan, I can confirm that a few drivers could indeed be a bit more cautious.
Of course, a private tour guide will organize the transportation for you, but it will be more expensive. For example, I don’t think a private tour of Taipei is worth the money. The city is simply too convenient to explore by public transportation.
Taiwan Tour Guides and Travel Packages
Many tourists visiting Taiwan ask about the best tour guides or travel packages. I only know a few organized tour operators, and they all operate in Kinmen, but I have not personally taken any. IMHO, it is quite easy to organize your own trip. That is why I have never used a Taiwan travel package or vacation tour package, I assume. However, I can see the value of these packages if you are short on time or planning to visit less common destinations like Kinmen.
The good thing is that Taiwan feels very safe (at least to me). Local tour guides are unlikely to trick you, but make sure you book through a trustworthy website when booking a tour guide or a private tour online.
When a Taiwan guide makes sense
On second thought, it can make sense to hire a travel agency or a guide if you want to go hiking in one of Taiwan’s national parks. For example, if you want to climb Yushan (aka Jade Mountain), you need a permit and have to register your trip. A travel agency can help you with the permit, or you can hire a private guide to go with you.
However, I do not have an agency I can personally recommend. Tourism in Taiwan is regulated, though, so a Taiwanese travel guide needs to have a license to operate. The risk of being scammed is therefore fairly low.
Of course, if you only have one or two days, it can also make sense to hire a Taipei travel guide, or a guide in whichever city you are visiting. A Taipei visitor guide can help you to see more in a short period of time.
Travel eSIM and Getting a SIM Card in Taiwan
An essential part of traveling in Taiwan without a travel guide is having mobile internet and a smartphone. Network coverage is excellent, but you should avoid using a SIM card from your home country. Roaming fees can be very expensive, so get a Taiwanese SIM card instead.
I recommend getting a travel SIM card or an eSIM in your home country, but you can buy a SIM card at the airport as well. In Taiwan, a physical tourist prepaid SIM card purchased at the airport ranges from NT$300 to NT$1,600 (approx. US$9 to US$50) depending on your trip duration.
Data-only eSIMs bought online before flying are even cheaper, starting around NT$147 (approx. US$4.50).
Taiwan also has plenty of Wi-Fi hotspots available, such as in coffee shops, on public transport, and in convenience stores, but having a travel SIM is still very convenient. Payment apps like LinePay are widely used, so you can make payments directly from your phone. You can also use apps to rent bicycles and scooters, such as the popular YouBike system in Taipei.
I use Chunghwa Telecom as my mobile provider and have nothing to complain about. Connectivity is really important for me, as I use my phone as the main camera for my travel videos. Thus, there is a lot of data going through that SIM card, but I live here permanently, of course.
In a nutshell, as travelers, You Have two SIM options:
- A local SIM card or a local eSIM, which allows both phone calls and mobile data.
- A travel SIM/eSIM, which typically offers better value for mobile data but usually does not include calls.
Is It Safe to Travel without a Taiwan Tour Guide?
Yes, Taiwan is an incredibly safe destination, and Taiwanese people are exceptionally friendly. I believe female travelers and backpackers are unlikely to face any issues. Along with countries like Japan, Taiwan is undoubtedly one of the safest places to travel. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs, of course.
You may wonder about the constant threats from China and the relationship between the two. While I cannot predict how serious China is about taking action, these threats have been ongoing for a long time. The Taiwanese people are generally unconcerned about this, and I personally feel very safe here.
However, the official language is Mandarin (which is hard to learn), and Taiwan has a unique culture. Many backpackers are looking exactly for this kind of unfamiliar experience. But I fully understand that other travelers would rather have a local Taiwanese guide by their side to support them.
Guide on Travel Restrictions in Taiwan
As regulations vary by country, I cannot tell you a definitive answer on whether you need a visa to visit Taiwan. It depends on your nationality. For example, as a German passport holder, I did not need a visa for tourist visits.
If you are booking through a tour operator, your visitor guide can help you. If you do not have a Taiwan guide, I suggest checking online at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another authority in your country. They usually provide the information you need.
However, note that Taiwan has strict quarantine rules for food and animal products. Bringing fresh fruits or meat products made from land animals is NOT permitted under any circumstances. Make sure to check the latest regulations before traveling to avoid any issues.
What is the Best Time to Visit Taiwan?
The best times to visit Taiwan are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). You have mild temperatures, fewer crowds (outside holidays), and ideal conditions for hiking and sightseeing. Avoid school holidays because hotels and attractions will be full.
Summer (June-August) is hot, humid, and typhoon-prone. However, you can make it work. For example, I took a day trip to Keelung Island in the summer. You can see how I tried to deal with the heat. Winter (Dec-Feb) is cooler, great for hot springs but potentially rainy in the north. But southern Taiwan remains mild.
Verdict: Why Travel to Taiwan at All?
There are so many reasons to visit Taiwan: the delicious food, the amazing landscapes, and much more. The best part? You can enjoy all of this on a budget. Compared to many other destinations in East Asia, Taiwan offers excellent value for money. Food, transportation, and accommodation are all affordable without sacrificing quality.
Or, to put it simply: just take a look at the pictures. Taiwan has it all – beaches, mountains, temples, and, as I have mentioned, Taiwan is both convenient and a safe place to travel.
So, you really should visit Taiwan! And if you cannot make it right now, do not worry. You can check my page about traveling in Taiwan or watch my Exploring Formosa playlist to get inspired to find the best places to see in Taiwan.
See you in Taiwan!
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