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8 min readPublished: August 1, 2025

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan: what to see and what to know before visiting

My advice for a first trip is to choose one city or region as the main base before adding nearby places. This makes tickets and accommodation easier to judge and protects at least one unscheduled day.

By ZhenyaHorse-riding instructor and traveler
Cities and regionsFood and local habitsTransport and practical advice
Taiwan: city skyline under blue sky during daytime

eSIMy Editorial

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan: what to see and what to know before visiting

Taiwan: which cities to choose, how to travel between them, what to eat, and which local rules are useful before departure.

Photo: Vas ยท Unsplash License

Nature and trips beyond the city

Taipei is an easy base, while Taiwan opens through Tainan, the mountains, the east coast, and small railway towns.

How to move around without wasting time

EasyCard helps on urban transport and with small purchases, while high-speed rail and conventional trains serve different corridors.

Taiwan: high rise building during sunset

Taiwan: architecture and city life

Photo: Timo Volz ยท Unsplash License

Opening hours and useful planning

Treat a night market as a sequence of small tastes rather than one large dinner; a queue indicates popularity but need not make every decision.

Taiwan: city skyline during night time

Taiwan: architecture and city life

Photo: Timo Volz ยท Unsplash License

Local habits worth respecting

At temples, follow the flow and avoid blocking worshippers; check signs before photographing an altar.

Weather and suitable clothing

Typhoons and heavy rain alter mountain trails and rail services, making official warnings more important than an optimistic plan.

Where to begin

Hot springs differ in swimwear rules and separated areas, so confirm the bathing format before arrival.

Sources and further reading

Primary sources for the verifiable details mentioned in this guide.

eSIM for a trip to Taiwan

  • Keep a 2-4 GB reserve for maps, rides, and urgent calls.
  • Store tickets and QR passes offline for peak-hour reliability.
  • Before intercity legs, preload maps and hotel addresses.

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Taiwan: first trip, cities, and practical advice | eSIMy