Taiwan
Taiwan
An island of hot springs, forest railways, night markets and bold new architecture, crossed in ninety minutes by high-speed train.
Why visit
Why visit Taiwan
Go for variety in a small space. In one week a traveller can soak in the sulphur springs of Beitou, ride a narrow-gauge train from the tropical plain into cypress forest at 2,000 metres, and hear an orchestra at Weiwuying in Kaohsiung, billed as the largest performing arts centre under a single roof.
Go also for the food. The Michelin Guide covers several cities of the island, from Taipei's dining rooms to the street stalls of Tainan, and the night markets remain the easiest introduction to how Taiwan eats.
Explore
What to see
Taipei. The capital has the National Palace Museum, lively night markets and the Taipei Performing Arts Center, OMA's cube with a sphere, opened in 2022 beside the Shilin market. Beitou, half an hour away on the metro, is the best known of the island's hot-spring resorts; our guide to Taiwan's hot springs covers the others.
Alishan. The Alishan Forest Railway, built in 1912 and reopened in full in July 2024, climbs 71 kilometres from Chiayi into the mountains by spirals and switchbacks.
Kaohsiung. The southern port has rebuilt its harbour front and opened Weiwuying, the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, by the Dutch firm Mecanoo.
The south and east. Tainan is the old capital and the home of much of the island's traditional cooking. The east coast and its rift valley are wilder, with gorges, small hot springs and few visitors.
Hotels
Where to stay in Taiwan
In Taipei, Capella Taipei opened in 2025. In Kaohsiung, the InterContinental Kaohsiung is close to the new waterfront. Beitou has hot-spring hotels with private baths, from old inns to modern resorts. Many travellers spend a night at Alishan for the sunrise.
Before you go
Practical information
Best time to visit
October to April is the most comfortable period, and the season for hot springs. Cherry blossom at Alishan falls in March and April. Summer is hot and humid, and typhoons are possible from July to September; they can close mountain roads and railways.
Getting around
The high-speed railway links Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung along the west coast. Conventional trains circle the island and serve the east. Taipei and Kaohsiung have metro systems. Tickets for the Alishan Forest Railway go on sale two weeks ahead and sell out quickly.
Practical notes
A week allows Taipei, Alishan and either Tainan or Kaohsiung. Ten days adds the east coast. Timetables and booking rules for the forest railway should be checked with the operator before planning around it.