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WHAT'S TAIWAN KNOWN FOR?
Taiwan is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves food and culture. From bustling night markets and bubble tea on every corner, to scenic hikes, ancient temples, and high-speed trains, Taiwan is packed with surprises and fun.
Planning our 2 weeks trip to Taiwan was not only exciting but also intense at the same time as my Visa is only last for 15 days, and we commit to cover as much as possible and make sure that we're not missing out! It turned out that our plan worked beautifully and we covered more than 90% what we wanted to do so ... if you're planning your trip to Taiwan with similar interest, here's everything you need to plan your trip, from must-eat foods and hidden gems to itinerary ideas and budget tips. Let’s dive in and thank me later!
2 WEEKS TRAVEL TAIWAN ITINERARY
✈️ TAIPEI ➡
(3 nights)
Capital
Historical attractions
Night markets
First-world infrastructure
TAICHUNG ➡
(2 nights)
Giant Guan temple
Anime lane
The first Beef noodles and boba tea
The best crystal meatball
TAINAN ➡
(3 nights)
Lantern street
Night market
Historical sites
Snail Alley
Capybara cafe
KAOSIUNG ➡
(2 nights)
Art city
Night market
Dragon and tiger pagoda
Dome of light
Glory pier with giant duck
KEELUNG ➡
(2 nights)
Night market
Zhengbin fishing harbour
Cat village
Jiufen old street
TAIPEI 🏁
(2 nights)
Taipei zoo
Taipei 101
Raohe night market
DETAILED ITINERARY
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Taipei arrival day
Rest and discover Ximending neighborhood nightlife
Day 2: History and attractions day
Free Taipei city walking tour with Tour Me Away to discover Taipei's historical sites with an English guide. The tour includes Peace Memorial Park, Presidential Office, Inner City Market, Zhongshan Hall, Red House Theater, and Snow King ice-cream stop
Lunch with Beef Noodles and Spicy Blood Curd
Watching Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall's changing of guard happens every hour
Day 3: Cultural day
Breakfast at Lao Chang Muslim Beef Noodle Restaurant with beef noodles soup and dumplings
Visit Dadaocheng square which is an important centre for commerce in Taiwanese products and produce such as Chinese medicinal herbs, fabrics, incense materials, and for the post-processing of Taiwanese tea
Dinner at Dadaocheng Braised Pork Rice
Day 4: Travel to Taichung day by train
Lunch with Braised pork rice at Fu Din Wang
City discovery
Day 5: Discover Taichung's tourist attractions
Taichung Park, 200-year old Taichung Le Cheng Temple, Taichung Literature Museum, Giant Guan Temple and Yuan Bao Custard
Lunch at Chun Shui Tang Beef noodles and boba teas - Claimed as the first Taiwanese boba tea
Anime lane with Japanese anime characters like Totoro, Dragon Balls, One Piece, etc
Spend the evening at Feng Chia Night Market to have grilled beef and pork neck, breaded chicken
Day 6: Brunch in Taichung and travel to Tainan day by fast train
Brunch at Taichung 2nd Market with: Crystal Meatball, Dumplings, Taiwanese full breakfast with tunip cake, 1975 Black Tea station
Travel to Tainan
Spend evening in Shennong Street with Lanterns and night market
Visit Garden Night Market for: Taiwanese burger, crystal dumplings, soufle with boba
Day 7: Discover Tainan's tourist attractions
Discover Anping Old Street: Temple, Anping Fort, Anping Tree House, Abandoned House, Lu's Mansion, Tainan Wharf
Lunch at A Cai Beef Soup and Braised Pork Rice
Repeat Garden night market for Breaded Chicken and more food
Day 8: Tainan's off-the-beaten path day
Confucius Temple
Street art hunting at Snail Alley and Art Alley
Lunch at Ding Fu Fa for Lard Rice, Brased Pork, and Silky Tofu with Centuries Egg
Visit Capybara cafe at Mogu Kabi if you're a fan of those super cute and relaxing buddies
Dinner at Lao Zheng Beef Noodles Restaurant
Day 9: Travel to Kaosiung - The city of art by local train
Discover Kaosiung tourist attractions: Beat Baumann Art Wall, Pier-2 Art Center, Doom of Light
Liohe Tourist Night Market for Grilled Pork Knuckles, Grilled beef, Grilled Mochi, Braised Pork Rice, etc
Day 10: Temples day
Visit Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and stroll along the street full of temples, City temple of Confucius
Dinner at Bei Gang Tsai Rice Tube for rice cooked in tube with slow cook meat
Day 11: Travel day from Kaosiung to Keelung
Travel from Kaosiung to Taipei by fast train
Travel from Taipei to Keelung by local train
Visit Keelung Tower
Having dinner in Keelung MiaoKou Night Market
Day 12: Day trip from Keelung
Zhengbin Fishing Harbour with colorful buildings
Back to Keelung and having Sichuan Beef Noodles and Milk Tea
Day 13: Travel back to Taipei by local train
Lunch at Lan Fang Sichuan Noodles and Kebuke Milk Tea
Day 14: Taipei Zoo
Visit Taipei Zoo
Day 15: Last day with night flight
Lunch at Bandao Beef Noodles Restaurant
Malls hopping
Milk Tea Sai Khia Date
Taipei 101
Note:
Bold and pink text means MUST TRY/DO/VISIT
Normal text: Optional
TAIWAN TRAVEL TIPS BEFORE YOU GO
Best time to travel Taiwan
Best time to travel Taiwan
Best time (March - May) and (October to early November): The weather’s pleasant, skies are clear, and it’s not too crowded
Summer (June–August): The weather hot and humid, but great for festivals and beaches.
Winter (December–February) is mild and cozy, great for hot springs and food trips, though the north can be rainy
Time Your Trip with a Local Festival
Time Your Trip with a Local Festival
If you want to experience the culture in full swing, plan around one of these:
Lunar New Year (Jan/Feb): Huge family holiday with fireworks and feasting (some places may close).
Lantern Festival (Feb/Mar): Light up the night sky in Pingxi with floating lanterns
Dragon Boat Festival (June): Boat races and sticky rice dumplings by the river.
Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept): BBQs, mooncakes, and lanterns under the moonlight.
No matter when you go, Taiwan has a vibe worth experiencing, just pack with the season in mind, and you’re all set!
Taiwan tourist visa
Taiwan tourist visa
Taiwan tourist visa type:
Visa-Free Entry
eVisa or Travel Authorization Certificate (Citizens of Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam that meet these requirements, can apply online for an R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate from the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior)
Standard Tourist Visa: If you’re not eligible for visa-free or eVisa, you can apply through a Taiwanese consulate or embassy in your country.
Always double-check the latest visa info on Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs or your local consulate before you go, rules can change!
Transportation in Taiwan
Transportation in Taiwan
Taiwan’s transportation is super convenient and foreigner-friendly, once you get the hang of it, getting around is a piece of cake!Public transportTaiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) - Useful for getting from north to south fast
Taiwan Railways (TRA) - Slower than HSR, but the train network reaches more local towns and scenic routes.
Google Maps works great for navigating public transport in Taiwan. Just enter your destination and it’ll give you MRT, bus, or train options in real time.EasyCard - a rechargeable smart card can be useful in many ways
EasyCard can be purchased at the airport, MRT stations, or convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Klook. Load it up and tap in/out whenever you use the public transports. However, this is not mandatory.
Uber is recommended if you travel in group.
- Connects major cities like Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung in just a few hours
- Clean, comfy, and super reliable
- Book tickets online, at stations, or via the HSR app
- Tip: Buying in advance not only helps you snag early bird discounts, but also ensures you don’t miss out on seats during peak times.
Taiwan Railways (TRA) - Slower than HSR, but the train network reaches more local towns and scenic routes.
- Great for getting to places like Hualien, Taitung, Jiufen, or the east coast
- Book online or at the station
- EasyCard is accepted on many TRA trains (just tap in/out)
- City buses: EasyCard - friendly and super affordable.
- Intercity buses: Comfy, with routes between cities and tourist spots (like Sun Moon Lake or Alishan). Check UBus, Kuo-Kuang, and Ho-Hsin.
Google Maps works great for navigating public transport in Taiwan. Just enter your destination and it’ll give you MRT, bus, or train options in real time.EasyCard - a rechargeable smart card can be useful in many ways
- MRT (subways) in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and other cities
- Local trains (TRA) to travel between Taipei, Tainan, Kaosiung, Keelung
- City buses and intercity buses
- Convenience stores shopping and bike rentals
EasyCard can be purchased at the airport, MRT stations, or convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Klook. Load it up and tap in/out whenever you use the public transports. However, this is not mandatory.
Uber is recommended if you travel in group.
Internet and Sim cards
Internet and Sim cards
SIM Cards
Tip: If you’re staying longer than a week, it’s best to pick up a SIM card with unlimited data.
eSIM
Pocket WiFi
Tip: It’s typically unlimited data, so you can share with your travel buddies or use it for your whole trip.
- You can buy prepaid SIM cards at the airport or convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) in Taiwan.
- Plans typically include data, local calls, and text messages. It surprisingly took us 10s to kick in and they only asked for the passport.
Tip: If you’re staying longer than a week, it’s best to pick up a SIM card with unlimited data.
eSIM
- If your phone supports eSIM, this is a convenient option. You can buy an eSIM plan online before your trip and activate it once you land in Taiwan.
Pocket WiFi
- Pocket WiFi is a great option if you're traveling with multiple people or need to connect several devices.
- You can rent a device from the airport or book one online in advance.
Tip: It’s typically unlimited data, so you can share with your travel buddies or use it for your whole trip.
Budget breakdown
Budget breakdown
We travel with comfort, so we weren’t going for the most budget-friendly options. We stayed in central areas, ate as much as possible, and traveled around with Uber. For our two-week slow travel trip to Taiwan with comfort, we spent around £1,800 (approx. $2,250 USD) for two people. Here's the breakdown:
Total Daily Budget: Around £104 ($129.50 USD) per day for both of us.
- Flights from BKK to TPE and from TPE to KULL: £330 ($412.50 USD)
- 1 SIM Card that we shared: £16 ($25 USD)
Total Daily Budget: Around £104 ($129.50 USD) per day for both of us.
TAIWAN GALLERY
FINAL THOUGHTS
2 weeks in Taiwan were one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!
I love Taiwanese food. The bubble tea totally lived up to the reputation. It’s just amazing and unique. The people are so friendly and polite too. Taiwan is one of those countries with top-tier infrastructure. You can literally find a clean toilet anywhere 😂 It’s just so clean and convenient.
Overall, 2 weeks couldn’t cover everything. It actually felt a bit rushed and tiring. If I could, I’d spend at least a month slow traveling through Taiwan. I seriously can’t wait for my next visit!
If you’re considering Taiwan as one of your next destinations, I strongly recommend it. I’m pretty sure you’ll fall in love with this country on the very first day.
And hey! I hope this itinerary helps you plan an unforgettable trip to Taiwan. Let’s stay in touch, I’d love to hear all about your adventure!
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