Taiwan Travel Guide

Taiwan is way more than just Taipei. You’ve got the street food and night markets, yes, but also historic temples in Tainan, the mountain forests of Alishan, coastal cities like Kaohsiung, and stunning little towns like Jiufen. Public transport is easy, bubble tea is everywhere, and the food is incredible, beef noodle soup, xiao long bao, scallion pancakes, milk donuts, you name it. It’s affordable, friendly, and full of culture.

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…

Where to Stay in Chiayi Taiwan: The Best Areas & Hotels 2025

Chiayi was actually one of the last places I visited during my Taiwan adventure, and I’m so glad I didn’t skip it. For many travelers (including me), Chiayi is the main gateway to Alishan Forest which is why most people end up spending a night or two here. Alishan is easily one of the most…

Taiwan Travel Insurance: This Travel Insurance is My Favorite for Travel in 2025

I know, usually I chat about the fun stuff like food, hikes, cute cafés, beaches, but today we’re looking into something a bit more “adult”: travel insurance for Taiwan. I’ve been traveling for almost 7 years now, either non-stop or on long trips, and for me, having travel insurance has always been a non-negotiable. Especially…

The Perfect 7 Day Itinerary Taiwan: How I Spent 1 Week Here

I honestly had no idea I’d end up loving Taiwan as much as I did. It wasn’t even on my radar this year, I just kinda ended up there because I needed a cheap flight out of the Philippines. But hey, here we are… and wow, Taiwan completely impressed me. In my opinion, Taiwan is…

How to Get to Alishan Forest Taiwan: The Easiest Ways to get There 2025

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, or as I like to call it, just Alishan Forest, because the actual name is way too long, was one of the absolute highlights of my Taiwan trip. The forest is famous for its ancient giant cypress trees, misty trails, and of course the iconic sunrise above the sea of…

How to Take the Train to Alishan Forest: My Complete Guide in 2025

When I was planning my trip to Alishan Forest in Taiwan, one thing kept coming up over and over again: the Alishan Forest Railway. Everyone talks about how it’s not just a way to get to Alishan, but an experience and a highlight all on its own. But honestly, trying to figure out how to…

The Best Time to Visit Alishan National Forest (And When I’d Go Again) 2025

The Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, or just Alishan Forest, as most people call it, is for sure one of my favorite places I visited in all of Taiwan.  It’s a magical mountain forest area with beautiful hiking trails, ancient giant cypress trees, incredible sunrise views, and the super famous Alishan Forest Railway. The whole…

The 9 Best Things to Do in Kaohsiung + What I Would Skip

I only recently visited Kaohsiung City in Taiwan and I was actually quite surprised by it,  in fact, I’d say it’s a bit underrated. Kaohsiung is really different from Taipei, with its beautiful waterfront and harbor, loads of art (from street art to art museums), and some of the most stunning temples I’ve seen in…

A Mini Guide to The Dragon And Tiger Pagodas & My Honest Review (2025)

One of my favorite and definitely one of the most unique things to do in Kaohsiung is visiting the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. It’s an amazing set of pagodas with a giant dragon on one side and a tiger on the other. For good luck, you’re supposed to enter through the dragon’s mouth and exit…

A Mini Guide to the Sunfong Temple Kaohsiung & My Honest Review 2025

One of my highlights during my visit to Kaohsiung in Taiwan was definitely checking out Sunfong Temple. Sunfong Temple (also called Sanfeng Temple) is actually one of the most impressive and beautiful temples I’ve seen in Taiwan. It’s a Taoist temple originally built in the early 1600s (so it’s got some real history), and it’s…

Where to Stay in Kaohsiung Taiwan: My Top Areas & Hotels in 2025

Kaohsiung was one of the last stops on my Taiwan trip, and it felt super different from Taipei City and Tainan, which I visited first. To me, Kaohsiung felt way more modern, artsy, and a bit edgy and honestly, some parts even reminded me of Melbourne (and I mean that in a good way). When…

3 Days in Kaohsiung itinerary: How I Spent an Amazing 72 Hours Here

Kaohsiung is usually the southernmost stop for most people exploring Taiwan, and that was exactly the case for me. It was actually my last stop before heading back up north. I’d rank Kaohsiung as my number three favorite city in Taiwan, right behind Taipei and Tainan. The city has a super chill vibe, lots of…

Is Kaohsiung Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

Kaohsiung is definitely one of the lesser-visited cities in Taiwan, at least from what I’ve seen. Compared to Taipei, it just doesn’t get as much attention, probably because it’s way down south and a bit further out of the way. But honestly, I think Kaohsiung is super underrated and totally deserves a spot on your…

The 12 Best Things to Do in Tainan, Taiwan

Tainan, the former capital of Taiwan, is easily one of my favorite places in the country. I spent about four days here, wandering through all the amazing food streets, night markets, temples, and more and honestly, I loved it. In this guide, I’ve put together a list of my favorite activities in Tainan. From beautiful…

2 Days in Tainan Itinerary: How I Spent An an Amazing 48 Hours in Tainan City

Tainan easily lands in my top two cities in Taiwan, coming in right behind Taipei. The city just has so much character, it’s the former capital of Taiwan, and you can really feel that history when you wander around. There are old buildings, tiny alleyways, and of course, loads of incredible food. If you’re planning…

Where to Stay in Tainan Taiwan: My Top Areas & Hotels in 2025

Tainan City easily ranks as my second favorite city in Taiwan, right behind Taipei. It’s just such a different atmosphere here, way more traditional, full of culture, temples, old architecture, and some of the best food in the country.  It feels less modern and a bit more rough around the edges, which I think is…

Is Tainan Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

Tainan, Taiwan’s former capital, is hands down one of the most underrated cities I visited. It’s actually my second favorite city right behind Taipei and that says a lot, because I absolutely loved Taipei. Tainan feels like Taiwan’s “old soul.” It’s more traditional, a bit slower, and definitely less shiny than Taipei but I mean…

The 8 Best Cafes in Tainan City: My Guide to the Best Coffee Shops

I don’t mess around when it comes to coffee. I lived in Australia for three years, and if there’s one thing that permanently changed me, besides saying “no worries” every five minutes, it’s my coffee standards. They’re high. So when I got to Taiwan, I wasn’t expecting much. But to my surprise, Taiwan’s coffee scene…

The Best Food in Tainan City: My Where to Eat in Tainan Guide 2025

Tainan is basically the culinary capital of Taiwan, at least from what I’ve been told by locals (who are very, very proud of it). And honestly, I totally get it. I spent around four days in Tainan on my recent Taiwan trip, and eating my way through the city took up a huge chunk of…

Day Trip to Taichung: How I Spent 24 Amazing Hours in Taichung City

Taichung City was actually one of my first stops in Taiwan. I went there right after Taipei, and I really enjoyed it. Taichung is pretty close to Taipei, which makes it a super popular day trip. But to me, it has a totally different vibe. It’s a big student city (thanks to the university), so…

Where to Stay in Taichung Taiwan: My Top Areas & Hotels 2025

A lot of people, including me, probably won’t spend too long in Taichung. I feel like most travelers stay about a night or two, and honestly, that’s usually enough. Taichung City is known as a student city, not too far from Taipei. It’s less of a tourist destination and has more of a local vibe,…

Hiking Teapot Mountain: My Experience & Tips for this Amazing Hike in 2025

Hiking Teapot Mountain Taiwan ended up being one of my favorite things I did around Taipei, way better than I expected. In case you haven’t heard of it, Teapot Mountain is a “mountain” near Jiufen (the popular day trip spot from Taipei). It gets its name from the rock formation at the top that supposedly…

Where to Stay in Jiufen Taiwan: The Best Hotels & Areas (2025)

Before going to Taiwan, I had never even heard of Jiufen. But suddenly, everyone I met kept saying, “You have to go.” So, I did. Jiufen is an old gold mining town (hence the Gold Museum), but to be honest with you, that’s not why people go. Jiufen got famous because it supposedly inspired the…

Is Jiufen Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

I actually hadn’t even heard of Jiufen when I first booked my flight to Taiwan. It wasn’t until I started planning my Taiwan itinerary that I kept seeing it pop up everywhere“Jiufen Spirited Away in Real Life” was all over the place. That’s when I realized not only does it look super cool, but it’s…

Where to Stay in Taipei Taiwan: My Top Areas & Hotels in 2025

Taipei totally surprised me but maybe that’s because I had no idea what to expect when I came here. I visited for the first time this year, and it ended up being one of my favorite cities of 2025. The food is amazing, the culture is super fun to dive into, and the people are…

The 12 Best Things to Do in Taipei + 2 Things I’d Skip (2025)

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, ended up being one of my favorite cities I visited in 2025. Honestly, at the beginning of the year, I hadn’t even planned on coming here, but one thing led to another, and suddenly I had a flight booked. From the second I landed, I could tell this place was…

Taipei Travel Itinerary: How to Spend Amazing 1 to 5 Days in Taipei (2025)

Taipei was never really on my radar until this year, and then I went, and now I can’t shut up about it.  The food is incredible, the people are super friendly, it’s easy to get around, and every neighborhood feels a bit different from the last. It’s one of those cities that just feels super…

Solo Travel Taipei: My Tips & Tricks for Visiting Taipei City Solo (2025)

Hey everyone, Carae here! Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city, was one of the most different (in the best way) cities I’ve been to in the past couple of years. I’ve spent time in Latin America, Australia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, but Taipei was the first place where the culture, food, and language felt totally new to…

Is Taipei Worth Visiting? My Honest Review (2025)

Taipei being one of my favorite cities in 2025 was definitely not something I saw coming, but here we are, and I’m a big fan. The city has an incredible mix of culture, kind and welcoming people, cool things to see, and my personal highlight, some of the best food I’ve ever had. I just…

The 7 Best Cafes in Taipei Taiwan: A Guide to the Best Coffee Spots in 2025

Looking for a good coffee and breakfast in Taipei? You’re in the right place, because Taipei’s coffee scene is actually incredible. I didn’t expect that either, but it really surprised me. When I visited Taipei ( and Taiwan) for the first time, I had no idea the city had such a strong coffee culture. Great…

1 Day in Taipei: How I Spent An Amazing 24 Hours in Taipei Taiwan (2025)

Taipei has officially become one of my favorite cities, no question about it. When I first visited earlier this year, I honestly had no idea what to expect, but I ended up being completely blown away. The city is full of culture, friendly people, amazing food, and so many cool things to see and do.…