Taiwan
Taiwan is known for night markets, mountain gorges and a fast train down the east coast, with a clean capital to start from.
Taiwan is an island country in East Asia, officially the Republic of China. It lies in the northwestern Pacific, about 180 km across the Taiwan Strait from southeastern mainland China. Mountain ranges cover the eastern two-thirds of the main island, and most people live on the western plains. Yu Shan, at 3,952 m, is the highest peak. Taipei, the capital, is the usual starting point.
People come for night markets, where you can eat xiaolongbao, beef noodle soup and oyster omelette, and for mountain scenery such as Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake. The island suits travelers who like food, hiking and train travel, and it works well for a first trip to East Asia. Spring is the easiest season for most routes. Typhoons are most common from July to September, and the northeast gets steady rain from November to March. Allow about a week for Taipei and the east coast, or two weeks to add the mountains and Penghu.
Five things to know before Taiwan
- Get an EasyCard at the airport
It works on the MRT, city buses, YouBike, most trains and in convenience stores across the island.
- The fast train only runs down the west side
Taiwan High Speed Rail links Taipei and Kaohsiung (Zuoying) in about 1.5 to 2 hours, with Taichung and Tainan on the way. The east coast is regular rail only, and the fastest trains there sell out. Western Taiwan by rail
- Book east coast trains the moment sales open
Reserved seats on the express trains to Hualien go quickly on weekends and holidays. Standing tickets exist, but two hours or more on your feet is a long way. Eastern Taiwan and Taroko
- Carry cash for night markets
Stalls and small shops are often cash only. ATMs in convenience stores take foreign cards.
- Stay near an MRT stop in Taipei
Zhongshan, Da'an and Ximending all work, for different reasons: food, quiet streets or late nights. The Taipei guide sets out the trade-offs. Taipei travel guide
Taiwan travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Metro, night markets and hot springs
Read the guideNorthern TaiwanYangmingshan, Jiufen and Yehliu around Taipei
Read the guideTaichungCentral Taiwan's main city, on the rail line
Read the guideTainanTaiwan's oldest city, under two hours by rail
Read the guideKaohsiungSouthern port city, with Kenting beyond
Read the guideHualienEast coast base for Taroko and the Rift Valley
Read the guideTaroko National ParkMarble gorge: what is open after the quake
Read the guideGetting around TaiwanHigh speed rail, regional trains and buses
Read the guide
Destinations in Taiwan
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- NT$700
- Food
- NT$450
- Transport
- NT$100
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- NT$1,800
- Food
- NT$1,000
- Transport
- NT$350
- Sights
- NT$600
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- NT$3,500
- Food
- NT$2,200
- Transport
- NT$900
- Sights
- NT$1,800
When to go
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- JanuaryCloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Cool, dampJanuaryCloudy
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, damp
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Lunar New YearFebruaryRain
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lunar New Year
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°MildMarchRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Warm, clearAprilRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 135 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Plum rainsMayRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Plum rains
- JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, showersJuneRain
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 261 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, showers
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°Typhoon seasonJulyRain
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon season
- AugustRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low26°HottestAugustRain
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hottest
- SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Typhoon riskSeptemberRain
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 216 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Warm, drierOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 195 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, drier
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Mild, clearNovemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Cool, quietDecemberRain
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Taipei, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Taiwan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Taiwan
06:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today25°21°2%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed29°20°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 29°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu29°20°4%Thursday: Fog. High 29°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri25°22°6%Friday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat24°21°35%Saturday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sun27°21°5%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Mon27°19°62%Monday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 62%.
Updated 06:15 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 32.64 TWD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Festivals by month
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- OctNational DayAcross Taiwan
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in Taiwan: BTS World Tour 'Arirang' Kaohsiung, Nov 19 – 22, 2026 · BABYMONSTER World Tour [CHOOM] Taipei, Nov 21 – 22, 2026 · Stray Kids World Tour "RUN IT" Taipei, Dec 12, 2026 · Bruno Mars The Romantic Tour Kaohsiung, May 1 – 2, 2027
Before you go to Taiwan
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Taiwan FAQ
How many days do I need in Taiwan?
Four days covers Taipei and a day trip. Ten lets you go all the way round by train through Hualien, Taitung and Kaohsiung.
When is typhoon season?
Roughly July to September, with the odd storm in October. Trains, ferries and flights can stop during warnings, so keep a spare day at the end of the trip.
Is English widely spoken?
Signs and announcements on the MRT and trains are in English. In markets and small restaurants a translation app helps.
Do I need a visa for Taiwan?
Many Western passports can visit visa-free for a short stay, but the allowed days differ by passport. Check the Bureau of Consular Affairs page for your nationality before you book.
Does Taiwan have earthquakes?
Yes, small ones are common and the April 2024 Hualien quake was a strong one. Buildings follow strict codes and phones show alerts, so follow instructions and check road and trail status in the east.