Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Taiwan

A photograph of Taiwan
Photograph · Man Ng · CC BY 2.0

Taiwan is 394 km long and 144 km wide, and mountains take the eastern two-thirds of it — more than two hundred peaks above 3,000 m, the highest of them Yushan at 3,952 m. The 23,299,132 people counted in December 2025 are pressed into the western third, which is where the railway runs and where every city a visitor is likely to open sits: Taipei with New Taipei and Keelung at the north end, then Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung down the plain. The east coast is the other trip entirely, reached by crossing the ranges rather than skirting them.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Mandarin Chinese; Taiwanese Hokkien and other languages are widely used
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+886
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
New Taiwan dollar (TWD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
110 police · 119 fire and ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 110 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Xiangshan
    03 20 min

    Xiangshan

    象山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  2. Xiaoyoukeng
    07 20 min

    Xiaoyoukeng

    小油坑

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  3. Cannon Rock
    09 20 min

    Cannon Rock

    大砲岩

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  4. Dalunweishan
    11 20 min

    Dalunweishan

    大崙尾山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  5. Datun Nanfeng
    12 20 min

    Datun Nanfeng

    大屯山南峰

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  6. Kangle Shan
    17 20 min

    Kangle Shan

    康樂山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  7. Muzhi Shan
    20 20 min

    Muzhi Shan

    拇指山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  8. Nanganshan
    21 20 min

    Nanganshan

    南港山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  9. Shiti Ling
    25 20 min

    Shiti Ling

    石梯嶺

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  10. Tukuyue
    28 20 min

    Tukuyue

    土庫岳

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  11. Zhishanyan
    31 20 min

    Zhishanyan

    芝山岩

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  12. 1054峰
    35 20 min

    1054峰

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  13. 605峰
    36 20 min

    605峰

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  14. Aquankengshan
    37 20 min

    Aquankengshan

    阿泉坑山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  15. Arouyangshan
    39 20 min

    Arouyangshan

    阿柔洋山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  16. Bailusishan
    40 20 min

    Bailusishan

    白鷺鷥山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  17. Baipaohushan
    41 20 min

    Baipaohushan

    白匏湖山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  18. Baishihushan
    42 20 min

    Baishihushan

    白石湖山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  19. Baoshan
    44 20 min

    Baoshan

    豹山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  20. Batoushan
    45 20 min

    Batoushan

    八頭山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  21. Bishan
    48 20 min

    Bishan

    碧山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  22. Bojiashan
    49 20 min

    Bojiashan

    博嘉山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  23. Cliffs
    52 20 min

    Cliffs

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  24. Dafengshan
    54 20 min

    Dafengshan

    大豐山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  25. Dahushan
    55 20 min

    Dahushan

    大湖山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  26. Dakengshan
    56 20 min

    Dakengshan

    大坑山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  27. Danfengshan
    58 20 min

    Danfengshan

    大師岩

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  28. Daqiutianshan
    60 20 min

    Daqiutianshan

    大邱田山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  29. Dayoukengshan
    62 20 min

    Dayoukengshan

    大油坑山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  30. Fanglanshan
    66 20 min

    Fanglanshan

    芳蘭山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  31. Fudekengshan
    68 20 min

    Fudekengshan

    福德坑山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  32. Fudeshan
    69 20 min

    Fudeshan

    富德山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  33. Fushan
    70 20 min

    Fushan

    福山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  34. Fuzhoushan
    71 20 min

    Fuzhoushan

    福州山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  35. Ganweilunshan
    72 20 min

    Ganweilunshan

    竿尾崙山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  36. Gaolikengshan
    73 20 min

    Gaolikengshan

    高麗坑山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  37. Geziliaoshan
    75 20 min

    Geziliaoshan

    葛子寮山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  38. Guangshan
    76 20 min

    Guangshan

    光山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  39. Guangwushan
    77 20 min

    Guangwushan

    光武山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  40. Guanyinshan
    78 20 min

    Guanyinshan

    觀音山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  41. Gudaikengshan
    79 20 min

    Gudaikengshan

    鮕鮘坑山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  42. Guizikengshan
    80 20 min

    Guizikengshan

    貴子坑山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  43. Hukongshan
    85 20 min

    Hukongshan

    虎空山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  44. Huluzhoushan
    86 20 min

    Huluzhoushan

    葫蘆洲山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  45. Huoshaoshan
    88 20 min

    Huoshaoshan

    火燒山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  46. Hushan
    90 20 min

    Hushan

    湖山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  47. Hushan Peak
    91 20 min

    Hushan Peak

    虎山峰

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  48. Hutoushan
    92 20 min

    Hutoushan

    虎頭山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  49. Jianshan
    93 20 min

    Jianshan

    尖山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  50. Jiantoushan
    94 20 min

    Jiantoushan

    劍頭山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  51. Jiantoushan
    95 20 min

    Jiantoushan

    梘頭山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  52. Jinlushan
    96 20 min

    Jinlushan

    金露山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  53. Jinmingshan
    97 20 min

    Jinmingshan

    金明山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei
  54. Jiuzhuangshan
    100 20 min

    Jiuzhuangshan

    舊莊山

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Taipei

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Taiwan be?

Seven to ten days can combine three or four days in Taipei with Tainan, Taichung or Kaohsiung on the western rail corridor. The east coast, central mountains and offshore islands require slower connections and should replace, rather than merely extend, that compact route.

What entry documents are needed for Taiwan?

Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency provides the current entry and online-arrival requirements. Check passport eligibility and permitted duration there, with consular guidance where relevant; do not assume a transit permission or previous visa exemption covers a different journey.

What is the best way to travel around Taiwan?

Taoyuan Airport connects to Taipei by airport metro, and high-speed rail makes western cities straightforward to combine. Conventional rail and buses reach the east and smaller places, but mountain roads take longer and are more vulnerable to weather disruption.

When is a practical time to visit Taiwan?

Spring and autumn often suit city and rail travel, while summer brings heat, heavy rain and typhoon risk. Mountain conditions can diverge sharply from Taipei or Kaohsiung, so check the Central Weather Administration outlook for the specific route.

What money and payment basics apply in Taiwan?

New Taiwan dollar is the recorded currency. Transit stations and urban shops increasingly support electronic payment, yet night markets and small regional businesses may prefer cash; withdraw TWD through recognised banking channels and verify any foreign-card fee.

What practical safety details should I save for Taiwan?

Use 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance; Taiwan uses Type A and B sockets at 110 V. Tap-water guidance is Not recorded here, and typhoon or earthquake instructions should be taken from official alerts rather than social-media summaries.