Overview
Taiwan blends night-market food culture, high-speed rail convenience, mountain scenery and a welcoming capital in Taipei — ideal for first-time East Asia trips.
Capital
Taipei
Population
23.5M
Currency
$ · New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Languages
Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese Hokkien
Timezone
GMT+8
Calling code
+886
History
A complex history spanning indigenous cultures, colonial eras and modern democracy — today a tech-forward island with deep food traditions.
Culture
Night markets, temple festivals, bubble tea and hiking culture define daily life.
Best time to visit
Good months to visitJJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
October–April for milder weather; avoid peak typhoon season when possible
Getting around & staying connected
Cheapest ways to travel in Taiwan
Ride apps & transport
- 1Uber
App-based cars with upfront fares — usually the cheapest metered ride in big cities.
- 2Taiwan Taxi
Taiwan's big metered-taxi app (55688).
Uber and Taiwan Taxi (55688) both work; the metro + EasyCard is cheapest.
Cheapest SIM for foreigners
Chunghwa / Taiwan Mobile / FarEasTone
Unlimited-data tourist SIMs sold at the airport — excellent value.
eSIM (Airalo / Holafly) lets you get online the moment you land — handy if you don't want to queue for a SIM.
Prices and app coverage change often — figures are indicative for 2026, so confirm the current tourist plan in the app or at the airport kiosk.
Where to go
Top cities
In pictures
Taiwan gallery
Location
Find it on the map
Plan your trip
Estimate your budget
Trip budget estimator
Estimated total (your figures)
$3,160
≈ $1,580 per person · $451 per day
This tool only multiplies the numbers you enter — no prices are assumed.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
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