Taiwan — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“An island of street food, nature and warm hospitality”
Taiwan is the warmest, easiest place to travel in Asia — Taipei 101, buzzing night markets, the red-lantern village of Jiufen, Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, and the original bubble tea. Friendly people, convenient trains, and visa-free entry for Thai passport holders.
Taiwan at a glance
Choose a city in Taiwan
Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.
Taipei
Jiufen
Sun Moon Lake
Alishan
Hualien
Kaohsiung
Kenting
Penghu
TainanDecide — is Taiwan right for you?
Why people love Taiwan, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
Street-food heaven
Night markets in every city — stinky tofu, fried chicken, bubble tea, endless cheap eats.
Friendly and easy
Kind, safe people, English signage, visa-free for Thais — perfect for first-timers.
Varied nature
The marble canyons of Taroko, Sun Moon Lake, and sunrises over the clouds at Alishan.
Old-world charm
The red lanterns of Jiufen, sky-lantern releases at Pingxi, and old alleys steeped in the past.
Easy to get around
High-speed rail links north and south in 2 hours; the Taipei metro is clean and runs on time.
Taiwan vs its neighbors
| Taiwan | Japan | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $45–80 | $70–130 | $25–55 |
| Visa (Thai passport) | Check first — free online registration in some periods | Free 15 days | Home country |
| Getting around cities | MRT + THSR very convenient | World's best trains | Traffic · BTS only in Bangkok |
| English | Decent · full English signage | Limited, but signage is good | Decent in tourist areas |
| Known for | Street food · nature · friendly people | Precision · four seasons | Beaches · food · value |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
First time in Taiwan
Start with 3–4 nights in Taipei for Taipei 101, Ximending and Jiufen, then move on to other cities. Getting around by MRT plus the THSR high-speed rail is the easiest way.
See this plan → 🔁Been to Taipei already
Head to the south and east — Kaohsiung, Tainan, Hualien-Taroko, or the Penghu islands — for a side of Taiwan first-timers never reach.
See this plan → ⏱️Short 3-day trip
Base yourself entirely in Taipei, pick a hotel by a metro station, and explore from morning to night without wasting time on long journeys.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
17 ranked reviews
Reviewed6 Best Family Hotels in Taipei (Kids Pools, Themed Rooms & MRT)
6 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed6 Best Romantic Honeymoon Hotels in Taipei (Private Onsen & 101 Views)
6 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed6 Best Hotels Near Taoyuan Airport, Taiwan (Late & Early Flights)
6 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed7 Best Luxury Hotels in Xinyi, Taipei (Near Taipei 101)
7 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Penghu, Taiwan — Magong Harbor (2026)
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed6 Best Hotels Near Taroko Gorge, Taiwan (2026)
6 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Kenting Taiwan — Nanwan Beach & Eluanbi 2026
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Hualien Taiwan — Taroko & Qixingtan 2026
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Tainan Taiwan — Old Town & Anping 2026
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Kaohsiung Taiwan — Pier-2 & Love River 2026
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Dali Ancient Town, Yunnan (2026)
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed5 Best Onsen Hotels in Beitou Hot Spring, Taipei (2026)
5 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed5 Best Hotels in Jiufen Old Town, Taiwan Hillside (2026)
5 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Ximending, Taipei — Shopping, Eats, MRT
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed10 Best Sun Moon Lake Hotels, Taiwan — Stunning Lake Views
10 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed5 Best Hotels Near Alishan Station — Catch Taiwan's Famous Sunrise
5 hotels · Read review →
Reviewed5 Best Hotels Near Taipei Main Station — Airport & MRT Sorted
5 hotels · Read review →
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City-by-city food guides — standout dishes and places to try, with real photos
🍜 EatAlishan Food Guide
Read the guide →
🍜 EatHualien Food Guide
Read the guide →
🍜 EatJiufen Food Guide
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🍜 EatKaohsiung Food Guide
Read the guide →
🍜 EatKenting Food Guide
Read the guide →
🍜 EatPenghu Food Guide
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🍜 EatSun Moon Lake Food Guide
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🍜 EatTainan Food Guide
Read the guide →Signature dishes across Taiwan
- 1🧋
Bubble tea
The Taiwanese original — chewy, sweet pearls in milk tea, on offer at every street corner.
📍 Island-wide - 2🥟
Xiaolongbao
Soup-filled dumplings — the world-famous Din Tai Fung was born here.
📍 Taipei - 3🍗
Taiwanese fried chicken
Big crispy-outside, tender-inside cutlets dusted with chili — a favorite snack.
📍 Night markets - 4🦨
Stinky tofu
Fermented fried tofu, strong-smelling but tasty, eaten with Taiwanese kimchi — try it at least once.
📍 Night markets - 5🍲
Beef noodle soup
A rich braised-beef broth with chewy noodles — Taiwan's national dish.
📍 Island-wide
City-by-city sightseeing guides — real photos, locations and unmissable highlights
📸 SeeAlishan Things To Do
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📸 SeeHualien Things To Do
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📸 SeeJiufen Things To Do
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📸 SeeKaohsiung Things To Do
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📸 SeeKenting Things To Do
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📸 SeePenghu Things To Do
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📸 SeeSun Moon Lake Things To Do
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📸 SeeTainan Things To Do
Read the guide →Top sights across Taiwan
- 1🗼
Taipei 101
The landmark tower with a high-up observation deck and luxury mall, loveliest at night and during the New Year fireworks.
📍 Taipei - 2🏮
Jiufen
A hillside village of red-lantern alleys and tea houses with sea views — said to have inspired a Studio Ghibli film.
📍 New Taipei - 3⛰️
Taroko Gorge
A deep marble canyon with waterfalls and cliffside walkways — Taiwan's grandest piece of nature.
📍 Hualien - 4🌅
Alishan
Ride the forest railway to watch the sunrise over a sea of clouds and ancient cypress forest.
📍 Chiayi - 5💧
Sun Moon Lake
A large mountain lake where you can cycle the shore and ride a cable car for the views.
📍 Nantou - 6🏮
Pingxi sky lanterns
Write a wish on a sky lantern and release it into the air beside the old railway line.
📍 New Taipei
🚆 Getting around Taiwan
THSR high-speed rail
Taipei to Kaohsiung in about 2 hours; book ahead for discounts.
Taipei Metro (MRT)
Clean, punctual and far-reaching — just tap your EasyCard and go.
TRA trains
The around-the-island line, great for reaching Hualien (Taroko) and coastal towns.
Tourist buses
The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle conveniently reaches Jiufen, Alishan and Sun Moon Lake.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Taiwan
EasyCard
One card taps onto the metro, buses and trains, and pays at convenience stores island-wide.
Serious recycling
Taiwan is strict about sorting trash — garbage trucks play a jingle, and you can't just dump it anywhere.
Etiquette
Queue in an orderly way, no eating or drinking on the metro, and keep your voice down in public.
Visa-free
Thais enter Taiwan visa-free (check the latest conditions) — wonderfully easy to visit.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Hostel / 2–3★ hotel $17–30
Eat at night markets and use an EasyCard for the MRT and buses — the best value.
Comfortable
🛏️ 3–4★ hotel by a station $40–75
Mix sit-down restaurants with street food, and hop between cities easily on the THSR.
Premium
🛏️ Luxury hotel / onsen resort $100+
Soak in the Beitou hot springs, get a room with a Taipei 101 view, and book a private tour.
🗓️ When to visit Taiwan
Spring
Mar – MayPleasant weather with cherry blossoms and flowers in bloom — a popular time to visit.
Summer
Jun – SepHot, humid and punctuated by typhoons; better suited to highland spots like Alishan.
Autumn
Oct – NovCool, comfortable weather and clear skies — the best time to visit.
Winter
Dec – FebCool and damp in the north, perfect for the Beitou hot springs; sunny in the south.
Book — hotels our team picked
Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Taiwan — compare prices across 3 sites.
★ 9.4💑 Great for your trip★ 9.4💑 Great for your trip
★ 9.4💑 Great for your tripWant to see every option in Taiwan?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Taiwan
Do Thai travelers need a visa for Taiwan?+
Thai passport holders get visa-free entry to Taiwan (check the latest conditions and length of stay before you travel), which makes it very easy to visit.
How many days should I spend in Taiwan?+
5–7 days for Taipei, Jiufen, and a swing south to Kaohsiung/Alishan/Sun Moon Lake — the high-speed rail saves a lot of time.
When is the best time to visit Taiwan?+
Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Oct–Nov) have the best weather; avoid the mid-year typhoon season.
Tips before you go to Taiwan
- Buy a single EasyCard — it works across the whole island, great value and convenient.
- Book THSR tickets ahead for the early-bird discount.
- Carry an umbrella — it rains often, especially in Taipei.
- Visit Jiufen in the late afternoon so you can see the red lanterns at dusk.