Is Taiwan Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

A country that definitely took me by surprise this year was Taiwan. When I visited, I had zero expectations, mostly because I didn’t really know much about it in the first place. I booked my flight last minute, and I’m so glad I did.

Taiwan quickly shot up to the top of my favorite countries I’ve ever visited. I loved the people, the culture, the food, and just the overall feeling of exploring somewhere that still felt a bit under the radar.

In this mini travel guide, I’ll try to answer (and elaborate on) the question: Is Taiwan worth visiting? Of course, this is my personal take, because at the end of the day, whether a place is “worth it” is always subjective. But I’ll also share some concrete details and tips to help you make up your own mind.

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Is Taiwan Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

Is Taiwan Worth Visiting – My Quick Answer

Ok, just in case you can’t be bothered to read this whole article, here’s my quick answer: yes, 100%, Taiwan is worth visiting. At least for me, it absolutely was.

Before Taiwan, I had only really explored Southeast Asia, which has a totally different vibe and culture. Taiwan felt more like how I imagine China to be, everything was new and exciting. Every sign is in Chinese, barely anyone speaks English, and I basically needed Google Translate everywhere I went.

The food was incredible (seriously, I can’t say that enough), and the people were so friendly and helpful, even with the little English they spoke. Exploring the cities, hiking in the mountains, and diving into the culture was just so much fun.

So to keep it short: if you’re looking for a culture-heavy trip with amazing food and unique cities (and less beach-lounging), I definitely recommend visiting Taiwan.

What is Taiwan Like to Visit?

“What is Taiwan like to visit?” is probably the question I get asked the most. People keep asking me, “Oh, what’s it like?” and I always say: it’s different. At least for me, it felt totally different from anywhere else I’d been.

Visiting Taiwan is exciting because everything feels new. It’s this super modern country, but at the same time, it’s so different from anywhere else I knew. Getting around was surprisingly easy, public transport is excellent, and there are tons of hotels and places to stay.

For the most part, I’d say the main “activity” was really just diving into the culture. By that, I mean walking around, exploring random alleyways and neighborhoods, chatting (or trying to) with locals, popping into little shops, and of course, eating as much as humanly possible at night markets. It was more about experiencing daily life and taking it all in, rather than packing in tons of sightseeing stops every day.

Of course, there are beautiful temples and some must-see sights, but it didn’t feel like the “checklist” sightseeing vibe I had in places like Bangkok. In Taiwan, it felt more immersive, almost like the entire trip was one big, slow exploration and I loved that.

What I Love About Taiwan

The food is amazing. There were so many dishes I had never tried before, and it was so much fun trying as much as I could. My favorites were definitely beef noodle soup, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and those pepper pork buns from Raohe Night Market in Taipei.
Locals are super friendly. Even if the Taiwanese people didn’t speak much English, everyone always had a smile on their face and tried to help however they could.
Everything is modern and easy. From public transport and convenience stores to booking trains online, getting around Taiwan is super straightforward.
Way cheaper than I expected. Accommodation, food, and transport were all super budget-friendly. You can easily travel here on a backpacker budget without missing out.
The architecture is beautiful. I loved the traditional Chinese-style temples, old alleyways, and all the little design details that make every neighborhood feel different.
Perfect mix of city and nature. You’ll explore huge cities like Taipei, hike misty mountain trails like Alishan, and even hang out on beaches if you want.
The coffee scene is amazing. I loved finding cute specialty cafes everywhere, I basically had a daily coffee mission.
It feels super safe. Even walking around at night, I never felt uncomfortable or worried, which makes exploring so much more fun. Definitely one of the safest countries I had ever been to.

What I Didn’t Like About Taiwan

Google Translate isn’t perfect. Especially with menus in restaurants, it can mess up the spelling or names of dishes. If you have allergies, it can be really tough to figure out exactly what’s in something.
No public trash cans anywhere. You’ll end up carrying your night market skewers, cups, and wrappers around all evening.
The high-speed rail isn’t always worth it. The THSR is expensive, and the stations are often far outside the city center. In most cases, you’re better off taking the normal trains from city center to city center.
It can get insanely hot. I was there in April, and it was 35°C (95°F). Some cities felt like ovens, so I’d recommend visiting in spring or fall if you can.
Coffee shops open late. Most places don’t open until 9 or 10am, but then they stay open late into the evening. Taiwan definitely has more of a night owl culture.

How Taiwan Compares to Other Asian Countries I’ve Visited

I kinda mentioned this earlier already, but before Taiwan, I had traveled to a bunch of Asian countries, from Jordan in the Middle East to Sri Lanka in South Asia, and all over Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines… you name it). But Taiwan was my very first East Asian country.

East Asia (which includes Taiwan, China, South Korea, Japan, and more) is a totally different situation compared to all those other places I’d been to. The culture, language, religion, food, and architecture, it all just feels so different. That’s exactly what made Taiwan so exciting for me.

In Southeast Asia, for example, places are super used to Western tourists. You’ll find English menus everywhere, locals often speak at least some English, and it feels a lot more set up for visitors. Taiwan isn’t really like that. Western tourists don’t come here in huge numbers (yet), and there’s no expectation that people need to speak English, and honestly, why should there be?

But even though Taiwan felt more “foreign” to me, it was still surprisingly easy to get around. ATMs, ticket machines, public transport, all of that was in English too. And the locals were always happy to help, even if we didn’t speak the same language.

So if you’re looking for a place that feels more adventurous and less like your typical “Thailand resort vacation,” I’d definitely recommend Taiwan. It feels different and special, but at the same time, it’s very accessible and easy to explore.

Things to Do in Taiwan

Explore Taipei: Check out the night markets like Raohe and Shilin, visit the CKS Memorial and National Palace Museum, and climb up Taipei 101. Just wandering the city is an adventure in itself.

Take a trip to Jiufen: A beautiful little mountain town full of red lanterns and old tea houses. It’s actually the inspiration for Spirited Away, and it really does feel magical.

Day trip to Taroko National Park: Taroko Gorge in Taroko National Park is one of the most beautiful places to visit on Taiwan’s East Coast.

Eat your way through Tainan: The food capital (and former actual capital) of Taiwan. Try as much street food as you can, my personal favorite was the pork lard mixed rice at Ding Fu Fa.

Go hiking in Alishan: A misty forest up in the mountains, with giant cedar trees and peaceful trails. The perfect place to escape the city for a couple of days and just breathe.

Hang out in Kaohsiung: A super cool city with an amazing art scene and a younger crowd. It actually reminded me a bit of Melbourne. My favorite spots were Sunfong Temple and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas.

Explore the east coast: You can hike, visit the beaches, go surfing, and even scuba dive. Yep, all of that is possible in Taiwan too, and not many people know it.

FAQs About Is Taiwan Worth Visiting?

Is Taiwan expensive?

Nope, not really! Taiwan was actually way cheaper than I expected. Food, public transport, and even accommodation can be very affordable, especially if you stick to local eats and use the regular trains instead of the high-speed rail.

What are the best things about Taiwan?

Honestly? The food, the super friendly locals, the mix of cities and nature, and that feeling of true adventure. I loved wandering around night markets, hiking in misty forests, and exploring old temples.

When is the best time to visit Taiwan?

I’d say spring (March or April) or fall (September or October). Summers can get insanely hot (I had 35°C / 95°F days even in April), and winters can be rainy.

Is Taiwan safe?

Yes, Taiwan is actually one of the safest places I’ve ever been. I felt completely fine walking around at night, even in big cities. The locals are super welcoming and helpful, too.

Is Taiwan a Tourist Destination?

Yes, but it’s still not as mainstream as places like Thailand or Bali. You’ll see some tourists, mostly from neighboring Asian countries, but it still feels like a hidden gem in many ways.

How many days should I spend in Taiwan?

If you can, I’d recommend at least 10 days. That way you can see Taipei, do some day trips, and check out a few other cities like Tainan or Kaohsiung. But if you have two weeks, even better, there’s so much to explore.

Is Taiwan good for solo travelers?

Absolutely. It’s safe, easy to get around, and the locals are really friendly (even if there’s a language barrier sometimes).

Final Thoughts on Visiting Taiwan

Alright, to wrap this up, I guess I can only repeat what I’ve been saying all along: I kinda fell in love with Taiwan. It’s my favorite country I visited this year and honestly one of my all-time favorites. The food is incredible, the culture is fascinating, the locals are so friendly, and it’s super easy to travel around. What more could you want?

I will say, Taiwan is definitely more of a cultural and exploring type of destination, you’re not really coming here just to lay on a beach or lounge by a pool (though you totally can do that, too). The east coast, for example, is more rural and has beautiful white sand beaches and tons of outdoor activities. I didn’t even know that before going, and most people still don’t!

Anyway, to wrap it up and actually answer the big question: Is Taiwan worth visiting? Yes. 100%. Double thumbs up from me.