Discover Taiwan

  • About Taiwan
  • Flight deals
  • Why Taiwan?
  • FAQs

Taiwan: The Heart of Asia

Taiwan is a naturally and culturally rich island at the heart of Asia. The picturesque island is known for its lush green mountains, abundant culture, and beautiful beaches. It somehow manages to cram a cultural and scenic diversity into its borders that would be the envy of countries five times its size. And the best thing about it is that it’s still kind of a secret among travellers from the west. Whether you want to explore the bustling cities or bicycle around the entire island (it's possible!), there's no shortage of ways to soak in Taiwan's beauty and sense of adventure.

Top flight deals to Taiwan

Hotels in Taiwan  |  Cars in Taiwan

Why visit Taiwan?

The question is more like why not visit Taiwan? The list of reasons to visit Taiwan is pretty much endless. Taipei, Taiwan’s largest city and capital, has bustling streets lined with all sorts of cool shops and must-see attractions, like the incredibly tall Taipei 101 building. Besides the amazing cities, there's also tons of natural beauty in Taiwan.

Beauty, adventure and relaxation

Taiwan is home to one of East Asia’s tallest peaks, Yushan (Mt. Jade), which provides a perfect retreat for hikers and photographers. Yushan’s breathtaking Sea of Clouds fill in the valleys of the forested mountains, and provide some of the most beautiful scenic views in Taiwan. In addition, there are so many stunning natural landscapes from beaches to mountains. There's plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventures too, with tons of cycling, hiking, rafting, surfing and more.

For some rest and relaxation, Taiwan is renowned for their hot springs, with literally hundreds to choose from (almost one in every city). The Zhaori Hot Springs is one of the world’s only accessible seawater hot springs and is a great spot for holidayers in need of therapeutic downtime. Taiwan also has 10 main offshore islands, each with its own unique geography and culture.

Eating in Taiwan

Eating in Taiwan is an awe-inspiring experience of its own, with a melting pot of different cuisines and delicious exotic fruits.

Not sure what foods to try first? Some of our favorite dishes include sticky rice sausage (大腸包小腸), oyster omelets (蚵仔煎), coffin board (棺材板)，and Dan-Tzu Noodles(擔仔面). Luckily, all of this good food is very inexpensive! Taiwanese nightlife is also very exciting (especially in Taipei) and there are many nightclubs, bars, and karaoke spots to ensure you’ll never have a dull moment.

You can fly from London Gatwick to Taipei (Taiwan’s capital) direct with China Airlines. Yay! The flight time is around 14 hours—which sounds like rather a long time but when you consider you’re travelling 6,000 miles, it’s actually pretty amazing. Tickets typically cost something in the region of £300 each way – bargain, right? If you don’t mind making a stop en route, you have a choice of many airlines, including Emirates (via Dubai), Thai Airways (via Bangkok) and Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong).

Taiwan is divided into two climate zones – subtropical in the north, tropical in the south – but its seasons broadly match those of the UK. Spring and autumn are pleasant, with average temperatures of around 25°C, while winters are a bit cooler at around 18°C. Summer sees the heat and humidity really rise – typical temperatures in August are around 30°C – and typhoons aren’t out the question.

For such a small island, Taiwan is absolutely crammed with amazing things to see and do. In terms of events, the Taiwan Lantern Festival is the premier item on the cultural menu, and takes place in either late February or early March each year. As for year round things to do, you’re spoilt for choice, but try not to miss hiking through Taroko Gorge, watching the sun rise over Mount Jade, taking a beautiful bike ride along the coast and exploring the quirky neighbourhoods of the capital Taipei.

You got it. UK travellers can spend up to 90 days in Taiwan without a visa. And if Taiwan thoroughly seduces you in that time, and you decide you’d rather enjoy an additional 90 days, you can extend accordingly. If half a year just ain’t enough, and you want to stay for longer, you’ll need to arrange the appropriate visa before you arrive. Also note, your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date of entry.

Taiwan has fantastic infrastructure, so you shouldn’t have any trouble exploring independently, especially as train and bus stations feature maps, ticket machines and signs in English. Joy. The two major cities – Taipei in the north, and Kaohsiung in the south – are linked by a high speed rail, with a journey time pf just 90 minutes. Within cities and other main settlements, taxis are ubiquitous. Outside of urban areas, it can be a good idea to hire a car. Or you can cycle around Taiwan—the country has incredible infrastructure for cyclists, and biking around the island is a popular holiday for many adventure enthusiasts!

Okay, sure. You know how in the UK, ice cream vans play music to alert people to their presence? Well, in Taiwan something similar happens, except the music comes from waste disposal trucks. It’s to remind residents to bring out their rubbish for collection. As if that wasn’t charming enough, it’s not just any old music, but Beethoven’s Für Elise. Nice.

Helpful links