Taiwan in 7 Days: My Honest Takes & Essential Tourist Heads-Ups

[Lula Schmidt]

Hello, fellow travel enthusiasts! I've just returned from a trip around Taiwan and I'd like to share some of my experiences with you for your reference.

The itinerary for this trip is as follows:

• Taipei (3 days)
• Taichung (2 days)
• Tainan (2 days)
• And finally I flew away from Kaohsiung. Initially, I had planned to spend an extra day in Kaohsiung but, having reached the limits of my strength, I decided to leave early.

Approximately how much did it cost?

• In total, including airfare and accommodation, I spent approximately 4,400 RMB (Chinese Yuan).
  • Round-trip air ticket: 800 RMB.
  • Accommodation cost: 950 RMB.
  • I stayed at hostels throughout, during the off-season when fewer tourists were around, so this price might not offer much reference value for those planning to travel during peak season.

Where did I stay?

• Taipei: I stayed at OwlStay Gushi Suo.
  • Amazing! When I was booking it was 150 RMB per night; now that I have experienced it, anything below 200 per RMB night is worth it.
  • It has bookstore-like common areas that serve as resting areas, it offers breakfast service, and there are laundry facilities available – all of its amenities are clean.
  • Its location is also very convenient.
• Taichung: I stayed at Drift Bird Grass World.
  • Its facilities were quite decent.
  • The only thing to be noted is that the room I was staying in had the scent similar to that of mixed air freshener and sweat – a bit peculiar.
• Tainan: I stayed at Hotel Leisure Tainan.
  • This place has the best public facilities.
  • But! There were a lot of beds in one room, which creates a noisy environment.
  • When people increase in number, there is a rush hour in the morning to brush teeth, use the restroom, etc., resulting in a somewhat crowded and dirty situation.

Everyday spending:

• Honestly, I’m not much of a buyer so my expenses aren’t particularly indicative for others.
• It feels like the prices in Taiwan are roughly on par with the larger cities in mainland China – like Beijing or Shanghai.
• Cash is key! I exchanged only 1000 RMB cash during this trip - truly recommended to exchange more.
  • Many small shops and stalls only accept cash and a local payment App named “Line Pay”.
  • Even the Google Pay or Apple Pay we often use isn’t widely accepted here!

Preparations needed before the trip:

• To be honest, I don't think there's anything particularly needed to prepare in advance - a lot of things can actually be settled after arriving in Taiwan.
• Having a bank card or credit card with international payment capability should suffice.

Travel experience and a few suggestions:

• Taipei: Three days in Taipei isn't enough!
  • I spent two days wandering around the city center, and then signed up for a one-day tour, going to Yeliu Geological Park, Jiu Fen Old Street, and Shifen Sky Lanterns.
  • The rocks at Yeliu Geological Park are truly unique and beautiful, and I believe I could’ve spent half a day there.
  • For the old towns like Jiufen and Shifen - to me they were only so-so. They may not be my cup of tea.
• Taichung and Tainan: The travel experience in these two cities wasn’t particularly great for me.
  • As I was traveling alone, mainly relying on public transportation, the attraction points in these two cities were relatively scattered, and the bus system wasn't quite efficient enough.
  • Reminder about transportation: If you do not plan to rent a car or take a charter van, and only rely on public transportation, it would be tough moving around between these two cities. I ended up taking Uber in most cases.
• Luckiest Day of the Trip:
  • I booked a day trip to Sun Moon Lake and Gaomei Wetlands on KLOOK (a travel activities reservation app) - everything was included in the fee of around 500 RMB.
  • It was a five-person small group, I sat front seat and talked with the tour leader大哥 along the way, which made me very happy.
  • And, throughout my week-long trip to Taiwan, there were only two clear days - the day of the Sun Moon Lake trip was one of those clear days, a rare stroke of luck!
• People in Taiwan:
  • Everyone I met was very warm-hearted. They have unique senses of humor and can really brighten up the atmosphere whenever they tell jokes.
  • While staying at the youth hostel, I became friends with some Chinese people from Southeast Asia. Though I’m usually introverted, now I have become more extroverted and active!
• If there was a regret: Not spending enough time in Taipei.
• Tips for solo travelers:
  • If you, like me, are an independent backpacker with limited travel time.
  • My recommendation would be to fully immerse yourself in Taipei. Then, consider spending two or three extra days in Taichung.
  • When in Taichung, consider booking a day trip to Sun Moon Lake or Ali Mountain (another famous scenic spot area) from KLOOK. It’s convenient and not too expensive.

[Pat Pagac]

Wondering if booking a youth hostel just a day or two in advance is fine. Or would it be much more expensive if I don't book earlier? Thanks!

[Arnold Predovic]

For Taipei, you'll likely need to book a bit more in advance, especially during public holidays, as places can be hard to get.

[Orlando Ryan]

I'm planning 7 days in Taipei and 3 in Taichung. Does that sound reasonable? Also, would I be missing out much if I skipped Tainan? Thanks!

[Dr. Israel McLaughlin]

Ten days is plenty for a full island tour. It really just depends on what you want to see and do. Personally, I don't think Tainan has that much to offer.

[Faye O'Conner]

How much is a one-day tour to Jiufen and Shifen? And what's the typical group size?

[Mr. Philip Hudson]

Around 100-ish. It's typically a large bus with about 30+ people.

[Jeremiah Stamm-Carroll]

Just wondering, roughly when is the off-season?