Taiwan attracts 8 million international visitors every year, making it one of the most popular destinations in the world. Its lush landscapes, rich culture and tradition, and bustling night markets are the main reasons why so many want to visit the country. Many of those who have visited other mega-destinations in the region, such as Thailand and Japan, are looking for a spot that is just as vibrant but not as crowded. If you’ve been thinking about traveling to Taiwan this year, here are a few of the destinations that should absolutely be on your bucket list.
Taipei
Visiting the capital of a country you’re visiting for the first time seems like a given. These cities are often vibrant, bustling metropolises where cultural landmarks can be found, where you get to sample the best restaurants, and which are usually close to other areas that could be interesting for tourists. Make sure to stay connected at all times in Taipei with a Holafly eSIM for Taiwan so that you have access to fast and reliable internet at all times without the pesky roaming charges. Taipei 101, the tallest skyscraper in Taiwan and the eleventh tallest in the world, is a must-see, iconic spot for travelers, offering panoramic city views and unique vantage points.
If you’re not a fan of heights and want to feel closer to the ground, there’s no better place than Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan), located close to the metro station of the same name. Although you need to hike to get to the top, rest assured that the trek is short. Since it is a little steep, though, you might end up at the top with calves that feel a little achy. Sweeping views of the city below are visible on all sides, and there are several platforms from where you can take photos. The Six Giant Rocks are located on Xiangshan as well, massive sandstone boulders placed along the trail.
If you want to visit museums, there’s the Taipei Palace Museum, which is home to around 700,000 different artworks and artifacts, spanning eight millennia of history. The National Taiwan Museum, the oldest in the country, hosts natural history artifacts such as several types of dinosaurs, like the Huanghetitan, Velociraptors, and Tarbosaurus. Prehistoric trilobites, fish, and mammals can be seen as well, making the museum incredibly popular among children.
Unique temples
Also known as the Temple of the Heavenly Viceroys, the Madou Daitian is a Taoist temple from Nanshi Village, Tainan, that was originally built in the 17th century. The construction took about a decade, since numerous sculptures and paintings cover the three hectares of space. A dragon statue that is almost 80 meters long has been in the backyard since the late 70s, with its mouth creating an entrance with a diameter of five meters to a tunnel that stretches along the statue’s body.
The Eighteen Lords Temple on the northern coast of the Shimen District is yet another sacred place that is definitely different from the ones you’re used to. The building honors 17 merchants and their loyal dog who perished alongside them in a shipwreck. The temple is particularly busy at night, with crowds making offerings of food, incense, and cigarettes since the merchants are said to be very fond of smoking.
Night markets
Taiwanese night markets are a cultural staple that attracts millions of locals and foreign tourists alike. There are more than 700 locations across the country, and you’ll find that they’re all very busy and crowded because they offer highly affordable (yet world-renowned) street food, shopping, and even carnival games. Shilin Night Market is the largest and most famous in all of Taiwan, with well over 500 stalls. It operates well past midnight but is typically at its busiest between 8 and 11 pm. Chicken katsu, bubble tea, cold noodles, aiyu jelly, Taiwanese tempura, oyster vermicelli, and omelets, as well as papaya milk, are a few of the famous foods that are sold here.
Ningxia night market has gained recognition in the Michelin Guide for its oyster omelet, but you can also sample dishes such as braised pork or chicken over rice, Taiwanese sausages, fried stinky tofu, grilled squid, steamed dumplings, steak, and fried sweet potato balls. Tonghua is the way to go if you want a smaller, quainter night market but still expect plenty of culinary variety. Thai iced tea, sushi, vegetarian gua bao with veggie ham, four herbs soup, and lou mei. Lehua night market, open between 4 pm and 12 am, is known for street food choices that are more authentic, meaning that locals make up the majority of its clientele instead of tourists.
The Taro Lehua Shop is a famous dessert restaurant located here. It is highly rated even by those who don’t have a sweet tooth and includes specialties like taro balls, tiny mochi, and the signature sugarcane shaved ice served with taro paste. Three delicacies soup is offered as well, but make sure you’re not overly particular about textures because it includes a variety of different vegetables and protein sources, including poultry and seafood. Hand-shredded chicken is a good pick if you’ve grown tired of hot pot but are craving something similar. It includes brined chicken, peanuts, bamboo shoots, and an assortment of several different veggies.
National Parks
While it may have a reputation as a concrete jungle, the truth is that Taiwan is home to incredible natural diversity, blending alpine ecosystems with subtropical ones. Lofty peaks are on one side, and pristine beaches are on the other. If you want to explore natural landscapes as well, while in Taiwan, the best places to get started are the national parks.
Taroko National Park, named after the landmark gorge of the same name carved by the Liwu River, offers spectacular river trails, and you can also try cycling uphill, but remember to be careful since the roads are narrow and you’ll have to share them with cars. Kenting, in the southern tip of Taiwan, is famous for tropical coral reefs as well as for being the home of numerous species of birds, water buffaloes, and terrestrial crabs. Yangmingshan can be found between Taipei and New Taipei City, is the northernmost in the country, and is popular among tourists for its volcanic landforms. Hot springs and other geothermal phenomena are common in the region. Semi-feral cattle live in the area, and there are thousands of species of trees and plants as well.
To sum up, if you’ve been searching for a unique travel destination and are still unsure of where to go, give Taiwan a chance. It’s not one of the most popular tourist spots in the world for nothing.
