Taiwan Travel Guide: Taipei, Tainan, Taroko Gorge & Where to Go 2026

Most Western travelers don't. Citizens of the EU (all Nordic countries), UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and around 60 other countries can enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 90 days. Singapore and Malaysian citizens get 30-day visa-free entry.

Citizens of countries not on the visa-free list need a Taiwan visa or entry permit applied for through a Taiwanese consulate. Russian citizens currently need a visa or an entry permit through an authorized travel agency.

Taiwan (Republic of China) is governed entirely separately from mainland China (PRC) — a Taiwan visa does NOT cover China, and vice versa. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from entry. Have proof of onward travel ready.

Taroko Gorge — Taiwan's most spectacular natural site — has been largely closed since the April 2024 Hualien earthquake, which caused major landslides and damaged infrastructure throughout the park.

Some sections have reopened progressively, but trails and access remain limited and subject to further closures after rain or aftershocks. Always check the latest status through the Taroko National Park official site before planning a visit.

In the meantime, Hualien still has worthwhile alternatives: Qixingtan Beach, Liyu Lake, and the Mugumuyu Tribal Trail. The east coast in general remains beautiful — the Highway 11 drive south from Hualien to Taitung is one of Taiwan's best road trips.

If Taroko is the main reason you're visiting Taiwan, consider rerouting to Alishan (cloud-cloaked mountain forests and sunrise) or Sun Moon Lake until the gorge fully reopens.

A balanced first trip: Taipei (3 days) for the night markets (Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia), Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum (one of the world's greatest Chinese art collections), Longshan Temple, and an evening trip to Jiufen and Shifen lantern village. Sun Moon Lake (1 day) as a base for the central mountains — bike the lake, visit Wenwu Temple. Alishan (1 night) for the sunrise sea-of-clouds and the forest railway. Tainan (1–2 days) for Taiwan's oldest city, temples, and the country's best traditional food. Kaohsiung if you have an extra day for the harbor and Lotus Pond.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in 90 minutes — book through THSR's app, around NT$1,500 one way. Skip rental cars in cities; ride share via Uber and Taiwan Taxi works perfectly.

March to May and October to November are the sweet spots — mild temperatures 18–26°C, low humidity, cherry blossoms in February–March in the mountains, fall colors in November. Summer (June–September) is hot (32°C+ in Taipei), humid, and typhoon season — flights and ferries to Kinmen, Penghu, and Green Island can be disrupted, and trains on the east coast occasionally suspend.

Avoid traveling during Chinese New Year (late January/February — 2026 falls February 17) when the country shuts down for family festivities, prices spike, and intercity transport sells out. Winter (December–February) is mild in the south (Tainan, Kaohsiung) and ideal for hot-spring towns like Beitou and Wulai — Taipei stays cool and damp around 14–18°C.

Taipei's night markets are the city's most-visited attraction collectively — the food is the whole point of going.

The essentials: beef noodle soup (Taiwan's national dish; the spicy red-braised version is iconic), xiao long bao (soup dumplings — Din Tai Fung is the global chain but Mingyue Tangbao in Yongkang is the local-favorite hole in the wall), scallion pancakes, oyster omelette, stinky tofu (try it — divisive but worth knowing), bubble tea (invented in Taichung in the 1980s — Chen San Ding and Tiger Sugar are the local champions), and pineapple cake as a souvenir (SunnyHills or Chia Te).

Best markets: Raohe (most compact and food-focused), Shilin (largest), Ningxia (locals' choice), and Tonghua/Linjiang (quieter neighborhood option).