🇹🇼 Taiwan

Night markets, marble gorges and mountain tea

Open Taiwan in the interactive travelogue →

Taipei — Buzzing capital of markets and temples

Taipei 101 Skyscraper

The bamboo-shaped tower with a high-speed lift to a giddy observation deck.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Cooler, drier months give the clearest city views.

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Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Historic monument

A grand white memorial and plaza with a ceremonial changing of the guard.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Milder months are best for the open plaza.

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Shilin Night Market Night market

Taipei's biggest night market, a feast of street food and games.

Best time: Year-round — A covered-lane night market lively in any season.

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Longshan Temple Temple

An ornate, incense-wreathed 18th-century temple in the old quarter.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Cooler months are best for the old-town temple lanes.

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Taipei Fine Arts Museum Museum

Contemporary art institution showcasing Taiwan's modern artistic vision.

Best time: Oct–May — Leading contemporary platform reflecting island's cultural sophistication.

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Taroko Gorge — Taiwan's marble canyon

Taroko Gorge Road Scenic route

A road threading a sheer marble canyon of tunnels and turquoise river.

Best time: Oct–Apr — The drier season is safest for the canyon (typhoon-free).

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Shakadang Trail Hiking trail

A riverside cliff path above impossibly clear blue-green water.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Dry months keep the riverside trails open and safe.

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Eternal Spring Shrine Landmark

A shrine set over a waterfall, built to honour road-builders.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Drier weather is best for the gorge viewpoints.

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Qingshui Cliffs Coastal cliffs

Sheer cliffs plunging straight into the Pacific along the coast nearby.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Clear drier days give the best cliff-and-ocean views.

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Zhuilu Old Trail Viewpoint

Historic Japanese-era coastal cliffside path with dramatic ocean views.

Best time: Mar–May & Oct–Nov — Heritage trail merging natural grandeur with colonial-era infrastructure.

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Tainan — Taiwan's historic old capital

Anping Old Fort (Fort Zeelandia) Historic fort

The ruins of the 17th-century Dutch fort that founded the city.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Cooler, drier months are best for the coastal fort.

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Anping Old Street Historic district

A narrow lane of old shophouses, snacks and the tree-swallowed Anping Tree House.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Milder months suit the crowded heritage street.

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Confucius Temple Temple

Taiwan's first Confucian temple, a serene walled complex of 1665.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Cooler weather is best for the temple courtyards.

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Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia) Historic site

A Dutch-era fort base topped by ornate Chinese pavilions.

Best time: Oct–Apr — Drier months are best for the old-town landmark.

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Hayashi Department Store Monument

Preserved Japanese colonial-era commercial building reflecting historical commerce.

Best time: Oct–Mar — Authentic colonial structure documenting Taiwan's retail and architectural evolution.

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Jiufen — Old street, teahouses, night markets

Jiufen Old Street Historic Alley

Charming narrow alley lined with traditional shops and food stalls.

Best time: Nov–Mar — Atmospheric heritage street famous for taro balls and street food.

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Jiufen Tea Houses Cultural Venue

Traditional wooden teahouses with mountain views and authentic local atmosphere.

Best time: Mar–May & Sep–Oct — Serene tea culture experience overlooking mountain landscape.

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Shifen Waterfall Natural Waterfall

Scenic 40-meter waterfall easily accessible from nearby station.

Best time: Mar–Jun & Sep–Oct — Spectacular cascading falls set within subtropical forest.

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Sky Lantern Release at Shifen Cultural Experience

Release glowing paper lanterns into night sky for wishes and blessings.

Best time: Dec–Mar — Magical traditional ceremony creating unforgettable memories.

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Gold Panning Experience Activity

Pan for gold in streams using historical mining techniques and equipment.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Interactive heritage activity linking to region's gold mining past.

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Hualien — Coastal raw beauty where mountains plunge into the Pacific with storm-carved cliffs

Qingshui Cliffs Viewpoint

Sheer 2,000-meter marble cliffs dropping vertically into turquoise Pacific waters along the coastal highway.

Best time: April-October — It's one of the world's most dramatic coastal escarpments accessible by scenic train ride.

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Buyan Waterfall National Park

A cascading 188-meter waterfall in a steep mountain gorge with trails and swimming pools.

Best time: May-October — The waterfall changes character with seasons from torrents to misty veils.

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Hualien Castle Rock (Qili Cliff) Historic Site

An iconic rock formation with walking bridge and viewing platforms overlooking the Liwu River gorge.

Best time: March-October — It's a natural fortress with 360-degree mountain and river vistas.

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Hualien Night Market Market

Taiwan's largest night market with 300+ stalls selling seafood, street food, and local handicrafts.

Best time: October-April — It's where locals shop for daily staples alongside tourists discovering genuine Taiwan food.

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Zhongshan Park Temple Temple

A hilltop Taoist temple with elaborate dragon sculptures and panoramic views of Hualien city and harbor.

Best time: October-April — The architectural details and city vistas make it the most visited temple in the region.

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Taiwan?

It depends on where you go: every place has its own ideal season on this page. For example, Taipei 101 is best around Oct–Apr. Taiwan has 5 featured cities and areas to plan around.

Is English spoken in Taiwan?

Roughly 25% of people speak English. The main language is Mandarin Chinese.

How strong is the Taiwan passport?

The Taiwan passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 145 destinations.

Is Taiwan expensive to travel in?

This page lists real traveller costs for Taiwan — accommodation, food, transport, plus education, medical, insurance and connectivity — so you can budget before you go.

What is there to do in Taiwan?

Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Shilin Night Market, Longshan Temple, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taroko Gorge Road — each with the best time to visit, why it is worth it, and specific things to do.