Taiwan is generally affordable for food, transport, and activities, but accommodation costs in major cities like Taipei can be surprisingly high. While street food remains inexpensive, mid-range to luxury hotels are becoming pricier. It is more affordable than Japan or Hong Kong, but not as budget-friendly as Southeast Asia.
As you can see, budget travelers can comfortably explore Taiwan on around NT$2000 (US$65) per day, while mid-range travelers should prepare about NT$4,000 (US$130).
The best time to visit Taiwan is generally in spring (March to May) or autumn (October to November), when the weather is mild, the skies are clear, and the island is bursting with color and cultural activity.
A: Late fall to early winter—November to mid-December—is typically the low season, and it might be the best month to travel in Taiwan if you're looking for cheaper flights, hotel deals and fewer crowds.
Yes, you can absolutely wear red in Taiwan; it's a very auspicious color symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and celebration, used extensively in festivals, weddings, and temples, though you should avoid writing someone's name in red ink as it's considered bad luck and a sign of death. Red clothing is common and welcomed, especially during festive times, and generally, you can wear whatever you like, with few restrictions.
Taipei Taiwan 2025 Travel Guide: Places to Visit & Things to Do • Itinerary & Expenses • Budget Vlog
Which month not to visit Taiwan?
We advise: Exercise normal safety precautions in Taiwan. Typhoons occur during the wet season from May to November, causing heavy rain, flooding and strong winds and can disrupt essential services and transport.
Two weeks is a good amount of time if you want to do a full circle around Taiwan. You won't be able to hit every stop along the way (unless you are willing to rush and change hotels/locations almost every night). But you can at least cover most of the main ones.
The Big Mac index: a Big Mac in Taiwan is one of the cheapest in the world at effectively US$2.3–2.4 vs about US$5.7–5.8 in the U.S., implying the TWD is almost 60% undervalued relative to the dollar by that very rough metric.
On average a cup of coffee in Eastern Asia costs $3.51. The cheapest cup of coffee in Eastern Asia is to be found in Japan, where the average cost is $3.11 per cup. The Taiwanese pay the most for their coffee, the price is $3.78 per cup.
Taiwanese have a reputation for being friendly and welcoming to outsiders. Visitors are likely to receive random hellos on the street. People may want to practice their English with you (most people can speak at least some basic English).
The "333 rule" in clothing refers to two popular minimalist fashion concepts: the viral TikTok trend of using 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes to create numerous outfits (9 items total) for styling practice, and the more extensive Project 333, where you select 33 items (including clothes, shoes, and accessories) to wear for three months, excluding essentials like underwear, workout gear, and sleepwear, to simplify your wardrobe and reduce decision fatigue. Both methods focus on versatility, quality over quantity, and creating a functional capsule wardrobe.
Toilet paper has short fibers and disintegrates easily, therefore it can be flushed down the toilet, as long as it is not done in large quantities deliberately. If the public toilet has the “Flush Toilet Paper Down the Toilet” sign, please do so as instructed.
Putting an arm around someone's shoulder, winking, and pointing with your index finger are all considered rude gestures. You may point with an open hand. Palms facing outward and in front of the face moving back and forth means “no”. Nervous movements, such as tapping your foot, are considered rude.
Da'an (our #1 pick ⭐) – Best for first-timers; central, with a large city park and plenty of dining options. Stay at MGH Mitsui Garden Hotel. Zhongzheng (Taipei Main Station) – Best for convenience; main transport hub with easy airport access. Stay at Hua Shan Din.
Ingredients and culture. Common ingredients of Taiwanese cuisine are pork, seafood, chicken, rice, and soy. Traditionally, rice formed the basis of most Taiwanese diets. Before the Japanese colonial period, most rice grown in Taiwan was long-grained indica rice.
The most popular digital payment method in Taiwan is the credit card, which is widely used for both online and offline retail. E-wallets like LINE Pay and JKOPAY are also extremely popular for in-store QR code payments, P2P transfers, and bill payments.
