Why You Need To Travel To Taiwan Next – 5 Reasons To Visit 

May we be so bold as to say that Taiwan belongs on everyone’s travel list? In this article, we’re going to share five qualities that sum up why Taiwan should be your next adventure.

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It’s a country many visitors have heard of, yet once you start exploring beyond Taipei, you realize how unexpectedly off-the-beaten path it really is. Shaped like a sweet potato, Taiwan unfolds into a mix of vibrant temples, buzzing night markets, rural hot springs, and some of the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet.

We had the chance to spend 12 days traveling the island — riding high-speed rail, hopping into taxis and scooters, hiking Taroko National Park, and sampling more bubble tea than we can count. It may sound short, but it was enough to gain a deep appreciation for Taiwan’s unique blend of landscapes, flavors, and traditions.

The best time to visit? Autumn months like October and November, when the weather cools, the typhoon season eases, and temple festivals fill the streets. Whether you’re sipping tea in an old Taipei tea house, wandering convenience stores for late-night snacks, or chatting with small vendors in rural areas, Taiwan has a way of surprising you at every turn.

5 Reasons Taiwan Should Be On Your Travel List 

When planning a trip to Asia, it’s easy to get swept up by big names like Japan, Thailand, or Vietnam. But one of the most underrated destinations and one that many visitors still overlook, is Taiwan. 

This island may be small, but what it offers is huge — breathtaking natural wonders, a world-class food scene, deep cultural traditions, and modern cities that hum with life.

Whether you’re a first-time tourist or a returning visitor, the island is full of surprises that make every trip unforgettable.

If you’ve never thought of Taiwan as more than a stopover, it’s time to give it a closer look. Here are five reasons why it deserves a top spot on your travel list.

The Friendliest Locals You’ll Ever Meet

It’s more than a land of smiles.  It’s a land of 人情味 (ren qing wei).  Our local expert guide, Joshua from MyTaiwanTour, explained it as a blanket term adopted by the Taiwanese to describe the general “be good to everyone” vibe.  It can also be translated to “human touch”.

Throughout our time in the country, the friendliness of locals was a reoccurring theme, whether it was directed at others or at us.  Sometimes it’s in your face and other times it’s just a passive feeling that you get. 

As travelers, we were taken aback at first because you learn to be skeptical but that wall you put up is quickly taken down because you realize it’s truly genuine and not because it’s part of some scam or scheme to get a tip.

Beyond the friendliness factor, we’d go out on a limb and say that Taiwan might also be the safest country in Asia to travel in. It’s a spidey-sense kind of thing.  There was never a moment where we felt unsafe.

The locals agree too.  Many people we spoke with are proud of the fact that crime rates are so low and aren’t shy about touting it as one of the best things about their country.

Food In Taiwan Will Blow You Away

This should come as no surprise — the food in Taiwan is AMAZING. In twelve days, we didn’t have a single bad meal, even though much of our diet was either from 7-Eleven convenience stores or the countless stalls at bustling night markets.

There’s something about the night market experience we particularly love: shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, sizzling woks, clouds of garlic and pepper rising from the grills, and stall owners proudly serving their specialties. Everything feels homemade and authentic, never mass-produced.

Your feet could be tired from walking all day, but the sights, sounds, and smells give you that extra oomph as you go from “ooh”-ing at one station to “ahh”-ing at the next.

When we weren’t stall-hopping, we sat down for some of Taiwan’s best-known dishes — beef noodle soup, soup dumplings, shaved ice, mochi, bubble tea, and pineapple pastries. Each one lived up to the hype.

It’s a barrage of the taste buds.  As long as you’re open to trying new things, the eating opportunities are endless.  Every day we regretted having that free breakfast buffet.

Taiwan is the kind of place where, even if you had nothing else planned, you could happily spend your trip eating your way across the island.

Breathtaking Landscapes That Feel Straight Out Of A Painting

Outside the big cities, Taiwan reveals landscapes you’d never expect from a country less than half the size of Colorado.

Massive mountain ranges form a great spine through the center, with places like Alishan showcasing nature at its most dramatic. Wisps of cloud drift through winding peaks like brushstrokes in a traditional Chinese painting, a scene that feels timeless and otherworldly.

In Alishan, you’ll find thousand-year-old forests, sea clouds rolling over peaks at 2,663 m (8,737 ft), and one of the world’s most unforgettable sunrises.

Taroko Gorge, by contrast, stuns with marble cliffs, turquoise rivers, and mountains that plunge straight into the Pacific.

Beyond the highlands, the scenery spills into river valleys, rolling farmland, and eventually soft, white-sand beaches. Head to Kenting for yet another perspective, a tropical coastline with a completely different energy.

Unexpected Adventures At Every Turn

What kept us guessing in Taiwan was also what made it such a joy to explore — the element of surprise. Around every corner, there seemed to be something unexpected waiting, and those moments became some of the most memorable of the trip.

• The way the wind blows – One afternoon in Taitung, we had planned nothing more than a leisurely city stroll when a call with a paragliding school changed everything. Within the hour, we were soaring above Luye Gaotai, wind in our faces, with views we’ll never forget. Read all about our experience in our post!
• Serious surfing – In Kenting, our confidence from surfing lessons in South Africa quickly crumbled against Taiwan’s powerful waves. We didn’t realize how large the waves would be and we barely made it out, but it left us amazed at the country’s growing surf culture.
• Art scene in Kaohsiung – Meanwhile, Kaohsiung’s art scene on the old pier surprised us with its transformation of old warehouses into galleries, boutique shops, sculptures, and street art reminiscent of Banksy. We could’ve spent way more time here than we did.
• Proud tribes – One thing we were really impressed with in Taiwan is how much the country has embraced their indigenous population and have given them opportunities to showcase their culture. We got to learn about it front and center in our ambitious hike in Taroko National Park to stay in a tribe’s B&B. Taitung was also a stop along the way which had quite a number of opportunities to learn about local tribal through their cultural centers including our hotel, MATA Taiwanese Indigenous Cultural Resort.

Experience The Heart Of Asia

One of the tag lines for the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is “Heart of Asia” and it’s a bold statement but surprisingly, it holds up. For us, it has two layers of meaning.

First, it expresses Taiwan’s incredible cultural diversity, rooted in its complex history. Indigenous, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, and Southeast Asian influences mingle throughout the island.

It’s hard to describe but you come to Taiwan with a specific expectation of Chinese culture and leave with the feeling of “wow, we totally didn’t expect that.” You experience this fusion everywhere: in people’s behavior, in the cuisine, in the landscapes, and even in the climate.

Second, it reflects the warmth and kindness of the locals. As we’ve mentioned before, friendliness isn’t just a surface-level smile here; it’s a genuine way of life, one that makes exploring the country all the more welcoming.

Plan Your Trip: Quick Taiwan Essentials

Taiwan is easy to explore once you know a few basics. Here’s what you need to plan a smooth visit:

• Best time to go: October and November are ideal — the weather is pleasant, typhoon season is over, and the skies are generally clear. Spring (March–April) is also beautiful, especially for cherry blossoms.
• Visa requirements: Most visitors from Europe, North America, and several other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days, but always check your local consular services before traveling.
• Getting around: Taiwan’s high-speed rail (HSR) is the fastest way to hop between cities like Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. For local trips, taxis, scooters, and buses are widely used.
• Recommended trip lengths:
  • 3 days — Taipei highlights and a day trip (e.g., Jiufen)
  • 7 days — Taipei, Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, and Kaohsiung
  • 12 days — Full island tour, check out our 12-day Taiwan itinerary

Taiwan’s Food & Night Markets – What To Try

Taiwan’s food scene is legendary, especially in its night markets. Here’s a quick guide to must-try items and where to find them:

• Pepper buns (胡椒餅) — Shilin Night Market, Taipei
• Oyster omelet (蚵仔煎) — Raohe Night Market, Taipei
• Stinky tofu (臭豆腐) — Ningxia Night Market, Taipei
• Bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) — These are nearly everywhere with new ones popping up all the time. We say, try them all!
• Pineapple cake (鳳梨酥) — Songshan Cultural & Creative Park, Taipei
• Beef noodle soup (牛肉麵) — Taipei and Tainan

Why Taiwan Should Be On Your Travel List

Taiwan is the kind of place that surprises you at every turn, with its friendly locals, incredible food, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural mix. In just twelve days, we discovered why this sweet potato-shaped island earns the title Heart of Asia.

Whether you’re wandering night markets in Taipei, catching sunrise over Alishan, exploring Taroko Gorge, or learning about indigenous traditions in Taitung, Taiwan rewards curiosity and open-mindedness. Every day brought something new to taste, see, or experience.

If you’ve been hesitating about your next trip, let this be your nudge. Taiwan isn’t just a destination — it is an adventure, a classroom, and a feast all rolled into one. Pack your curiosity, your appetite, and a sense of wonder, and get ready to be amazed.

This trip was sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau but all opinions are our own because we had one amazing time there and we seriously need to share this with the world!

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