Taiwan
Asia · Taipei · TW
Taiwan packs an entire range of landscapes into one compact island: snow-capped peaks above subtropical forests, busy night markets, and a coastline of sheer marble gorges and flat rice plains. Taipei, the capital, pairs skyline-perched skyscrapers with teahouses tucked into the hills, while the east coast's Taroko Gorge cuts through the island's central spine. Southern Taiwan trades in temple incense and seafood markets, and Sun Moon Lake reflects the surrounding tea-growing hills in a mirror-like quiet. The high mountain railway climbs through cloud into the cedar forests of Alishan, and hot springs bubble along the whole northern coast. Taiwanese food is a street-level celebration, from xiaolongbao to bubble tea, served by a population whose hospitality is as warm as the climate. The island runs on a rhythm of festivals, night markets and family tables that makes every stop feel immediate and alive.
Overview
Taiwan is a country in Asia. Its capital is Taipei and the international dialling code is +886. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Chinese. Local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. We also list 1 city in Taiwan: Taipei.
Taipei's Jade and Shilin Night Markets
Taipei runs on food, and the night markets are its operating system. Shilin, the largest and most famous, fills a warren of alleys beside the old Jiantan stop with fried chicken steaks, oyster omelettes, and the stinky tofu that sends a sweet-sour alarm through the crowd. The smaller Ningxia market draws locals for its pepper meat buns and deep-fried taro balls, while Raohe's temple-backed lane offers a quieter, more storied stroll. Beyond the food, the Huaxi night market stays open into the small hours. The day side of the city is no less gluttonous, with the bakeries of Yongkang Street, the beef noodle houses of the east, and the tea parlours at Maokong brewing iron goddess oolong on the hills above the basin. Pick a market without a plan and the city tells you what to try next.
The Marble Walls of Taroko Gorge
Taroko Gorge is the island's dramatic signature, a canyon cut by the Liwu River through the eastern flank of the Central Mountain Range. The road hugs ledges blasted from the marble, passing tunnels, suspension bridges and waterfalls that plunge straight into the riverbed. The Shakadang and Baiyang trails take walkers beside turquoise pools and beneath overhangs where the rock gleams in veined bands. Swallow Grotto, a sheer-walled section near the visitor centre, clatters with the namesake birds that nest in pockmarks of the cliff. The gorge floor is a mix of marble pebbles and cold, clear water that stays icy even in summer. Permits are needed for the more remote hiking sections, so early planning matters. The whole canyon rewards a slow traverse, with viewpoints spaced hours apart and the mountains thickening into forested ridges upstream.
Tainan's Temple Lanterns and Old Quarters
Tainan, the island's former capital, leans into its history the way other cities lean into youth. Every neighbourhood holds a temple, and the old town's lanes funnel visitors between the Confucius temple, the Chihkan Tower and the God of War temple that glows with hanging lanterns in the evenings. The city claims the oldest streets in Taiwan, narrow allies lined with small shops selling shrimp rolls, coffin bread and the sweet-savoury rice cakes local to the south. Fort Zeelandia's red-brick skeleton surveys the harbour district, a reminder of the Dutch interlude that shaped the island's trade. Tainan's night markets, especially the Garden and Dadong, skew more local than Taipei's, with oyster omelettes and braised pork rice crowded onto fold-up tables. The pace is slower and the food more fiercely regional, which is exactly the point.
Alishan's Forest Railway Through Clouds
The Alishan Forest Railway inches up the western face of the island from Chiayi with the patience of a mountain train, switching back across ridges and through tunnels lined in cypress. The narrow-gauge line, built in the Japanese colonial era to haul timber, now carries travellers into a highland of cedar forest, mist and the famous sunrise point at Zhushan. Alight at Fenchihu for its old railway village and bento stalls, then climb further to the Alishan recreation area where dawn crowds gather above the sea of clouds that pools below the peaks. The forest trails around the station pass giant cypress groves, some of them claimed to be more than a thousand years old, and the mountain air is as pure as anywhere on the island. The scenery is best in the cool months when the valleys fill with the soft white sea.
Kenting's Coral Shores and Southern Air
The southern tip of the island, capped by the Kenting area, sheds the northern formality and turns breezy, subtropical and beach-centred. The namesake creek at Longpan Park steps down to rock benches above the strait, and Jialeshui mixes coral reefs with rock formations that look built rather than eroded. The Maopitou headland drops into tide pools where snorkellers bump shoulder to shoulder in summer, while the sand at Baisha Bay holds the calm favourite of afternoon swimmers. The village of Hengchun, the region's old walled town, rounds out a destination that fills with road-trippers on weekends. The night market on Kenting Street blurs into a beach-party lane of seafood grills and surfing shops. Between December and March, though, the northeast monsoon sends dramatic swells and a cool wind across the peninsula, giving the coast a different, moodier character.
Compare hotels, cover your trip and stay connected.
- Capital
- Taipei
- Currency
- New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
- Languages
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +886
- Internet TLD
- tw
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Taiwan.
Which nationalities can enter Taiwan?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Taiwan?
For the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Taiwan visa-free for tourism, and 3 more origins are visa-free too. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Taiwan?
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Taiwan?
You pay with New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) in Taiwan. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Taiwan?
The languages we list for Taiwan are Chinese. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Taiwan?
The dialling code for Taiwan is +886 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Taiwan?
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taipei is the airport we cover for Taiwan.
Which cities in Taiwan do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Taiwan: Taipei (capital).