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Taipei 101 skyline

Travel guide · Night markets, temples and marble mountains

Travelling to Taiwan

Taipei’s night markets, the lantern village of Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, marble gorges and the temples of Tainan. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: from March to June and from November to January
  • Where to eat: a night market
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0

Taiwan in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Taiwan are from March to June and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).
  • To eat like a local: a night market. Don’t leave without trying: Beef noodle soup, Xiaolongbao, Gua bao.

Taiwan in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Taiwan. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

More destinations for November

When to travel to Taiwan

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Taiwan are from March to June and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January · where to travel in March · where to travel in April · where to travel in May

  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from July to September

    Typhoon season

    In July, August and September typhoons can pass through: transport and outdoor attractions close for a day or two.

    What to do: Leave a flexible day and check the local weather warnings.

    Best time: October to December

  • from July to September

    Typhoons

    From July to September typhoons can arrive and stop trains and flights for a couple of days.

    What to do: October, November and spring are the best times.

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

What to see in Taiwan

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Taipei

    Taipei

    The capital of night markets and temples, with Taipei 101 and hot springs on the outskirts.

    • Taipei 101
    • Longshan Temple
    • Shilin Night Market
    • National Palace Museum
    Taipei guide
  • Kaohsiung

    Kaohsiung

    The big city of the south, with Lotus Pond, dragon and tiger temples and art by the harbour.

    • Lotus Pond
    • Pier-2 Art Center
    • Formosa Boulevard Station
    • Cijin Island
    Kaohsiung guide
  • Taichung

    Taichung

    A city of museums, the Rainbow Village and the original bubble tea.

    • Rainbow Village
    • National Taichung Theater
    • Fengjia Night Market
    • Gaomei
    Taichung guide
  • Tainan

    Tainan

    The old capital, with hundreds of temples, Dutch forts and the best traditional food.

    • Fort Zeelandia
    • Chihkan Tower
    • Confucius Temple
    • Anping Tree House
    Tainan guide
  • Hualien

    Hualien

    The east-coast city, between the mountains and the Pacific, a base for Taroko.

    • Qixingtan Beach
    • Dongdamen Night Market
    • Whale watching
    • Coastal road
    Hualien guide
  • Jiufen

    Jiufen

    An old mining town of red lanterns and teahouses perched above the sea.

    • Old Street
    • A-Mei Teahouse
    • Shifen
    • Shifen Waterfall
    Jiufen guide
  • Sun Moon Lake

    Sun Moon Lake

    Taiwan’s largest lake, surrounded by mountains, temples and tea plantations.

    • Boat across the lake
    • Ci’en Pagoda
    • Cable car
    • Cycle path
    Sun Moon Lake guide
  • Taroko National Park

    Taroko National Park

    A marble gorge with turquoise rivers; since the 2024 earthquake some trails are closed, so check which ones are open.

    • Taroko Gorge
    • Eternal Spring Shrine
    • Shakadang Trail
    • Swallow Grotto
    Taroko National Park guide
  • Kenting

    Kenting

    Taiwan’s tropical southern tip, with beaches, surfing and a national park.

    • Beaches
    • Eluanbi Lighthouse
    • Night market
    • Longpan
    Kenting guide
  • Alishan

    Alishan

    Forests of ancient cedars, a mountain railway and sunrise over a sea of clouds.

    • Sunrise at Zhushan
    • Forest railway
    • Sacred trees
    • Tea plantations
    Alishan guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Taipei

From Kaohsiung

From Taichung

From Tainan

From Hualien

From Jiufen

From Sun Moon Lake

From Taroko National Park

From Kenting

From Alishan

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What to eat in Taiwan

To eat like a local: a night market, and order beef noodle soup or xiaolongbao. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Beef noodle soup

    The national dish, with a spiced broth.

  • Xiaolongbao

    Steamed buns with soup inside.

  • Gua bao

    A steamed bun with pork belly.

  • Stinky tofu

    Fried, at the night markets.

  • Lu rou fan

    Rice with braised pork.

  • Bubble tea

    Milk tea with tapioca pearls.

The typical dish of Taiwan, at home

Beef noodle soup
Photo: User:Pinc · CC BY-SA 3.0

Beef noodle soup

Taiwan’s national dish: beef shin braised with spicy bean paste, soy sauce and spices, with thick noodles and greens. Taipei even has a festival devoted to it.

  • Serves 4
  • 3 h

Ingredients

  • 1 kg beef shin
  • 2 tablespoons of doubanjiang (spicy bean paste)
  • 4 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 piece of ginger, 6 garlic cloves and 4 spring onions
  • 2 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 teaspoon of Sichuan pepper
  • 400 g thick wheat noodles
  • Pak choi and pickled mustard greens

How to make it at home

  1. Blanch the meat in large pieces and rinse it.
  2. Fry the ginger, garlic and spring onion, add the doubanjiang and tomato, then the meat.
  3. Add the soy sauce, wine, sugar, spices and 2 litres of water, and simmer gently for 2½ hours.
  4. Take out the meat and dice it; strain the broth.
  5. Cook the noodles and pak choi, and serve with the meat, broth and pickled greens.

The trick: Like any braise, it’s better the next day.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Taiwan

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • Bubble tea was invented in Taiwan in the eighties.
  • Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world until 2010.
  • Rubbish trucks play classical music to announce they’re coming.
  • It has more than two hundred mountains over 3,000 metres high.
  • At the night markets people eat “stinky tofu”.
  • The Portuguese called it Formosa, “beautiful”.

Traditions of Taiwan

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • February Lantern Festival

    Sky lanterns in Pingxi.

  • January or February Chinese New Year

    The great family celebration.

  • June Dragon boats

    Races on the rivers.

  • Spring Mazu Pilgrimage

    A procession lasting days across the island.

What not to do in Taiwan

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in rice.
  • Don’t give clocks as gifts (they’re associated with death).
  • Don’t eat or drink on the metro.
  • Don’t go to Taroko without checking which trails are open: some are still closed after the 2024 earthquake.
  • Don’t underestimate the summer typhoons.
  • Don’t write names in red ink.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about Taiwan

What people search for most before travelling to Taiwan.

What’s the best time to travel to Taiwan?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Taiwan are from March to June and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

What to see in Taiwan in a week?

The essentials of Taiwan: Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan and Hualien. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Taiwan?

Beef noodle soup, Xiaolongbao, Gua bao, Stinky tofu, Lu rou fan, Bubble tea. To eat like a local: a night market.

What is the typical dish of Taiwan?

Beef noodle soup. Taiwan’s national dish: beef shin braised with spicy bean paste, soy sauce and spices, with thick noodles and greens. Taipei even has a festival devoted to it.

What should you not do in Taiwan?

Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in rice. Don’t give clocks as gifts (they’re associated with death). Don’t eat or drink on the metro.

Is it worth travelling to Taiwan in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Taiwan. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0). Taipei, CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0). Kaohsiung, 毛貓大少爺 (CC BY-SA 2.0). Taichung, Nico Kaiser (CC BY 2.0). Tainan, Ralff Nestor Nacor (CC BY-SA 4.0). Hualien, Matt Chang (CC BY 2.0). Jiufen, Another Believer (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sun Moon Lake, Justin Hwang (Justinhwang1996 (talk)) (CC BY-SA 3.0). Taroko National Park, Allen Timothy Chang (CC BY 2.5). Kenting, MushGN (CC BY-SA 3.0). Alishan, CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0).