How many towns: Three to five towns are enough for a 7 to 10 day trip, because each stop costs half a day in packing, transfers and check-in. Taiwan is fast to cross, but a faster pace turns it into a blur of stations. More than six means you will skip the local mornings, tea houses and markets that make towns worth the visit. With 14 days or more, six to eight works if some are one-night stops.
Which kind to prioritize: Choose by travel style. For food and street life, pick
west-coast market and temple towns, which are cheap and easy. For hiking, hot springs and cooler air, choose hill and mountain towns, but expect weekend crowds and higher prices. For Indigenous culture and quiet, choose the east, where transport takes planning but crowds thin. Offshore islands suit summer, not winter, when …
read more 👉 How many towns: Three to five towns are enough for a 7 to 10 day trip, because each stop costs half a day in packing, transfers and check-in. Taiwan is fast to cross, but a faster pace turns it into a blur of stations. More than six means you will skip the local mornings, tea houses and markets that make towns worth the visit. With 14 days or more, six to eight works if some are one-night stops.
Which kind to prioritize: Choose by travel style. For food and street life, pick
west-coast market and temple towns, which are cheap and easy. For hiking, hot springs and cooler air, choose hill and mountain towns, but expect weekend crowds and higher prices. For Indigenous culture and quiet, choose the east, where transport takes planning but crowds thin. Offshore islands suit summer, not winter, when winds can cancel ferries and flights. A mix of two kinds beats one kind five times.
Budget: A backpacker can manage on roughly US$35 to 60 a day, about NT$1,100 to 1,900. Dorm beds cost NT$500 to 900, private rooms NT$1,200 to 2,500, and street meals NT$60 to 150. Hot springs can be a public bath for NT$100 to 300 or a private room for NT$600 to 1,500 per hour. Temples are usually free and small museums NT$50 to 150. Local buses cost NT$15 to 100 per ride, while the high-speed rail between big cities costs NT$1,000 to 1,500. A
EasyCard works on most local transit and in convenience stores, so you avoid fumbling for coins. Scooter rentals run NT$400 to 800 a day but need a valid license; Taiwan accepts an International Driving Permit plus your home license for many nationalities, so check before you ride.
Safety and etiquette: Taiwan has low violent crime, and towns are safe to walk at night. The real risks are
traffic and weather. Scooters often ignore pedestrian space, so look both ways at crossings even on green. Typhoons and earthquakes are routine events; follow the Central Weather Administration and your hotel. In temples, dress modestly, do not touch offerings, and keep your voice low during rituals. Do not point your feet at altars. Many shops are cash-based, so carry NT$1,000 to 2,000 in small notes, especially in markets. Queueing is expected, spitting and littering are fined, and trash separation is strict, so look for the recycling bins before dropping anything.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.