A little more
Taiwan.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Taiwan: what to know before you go

Taiwan is a mountainous island off the south-east coast of mainland Asia, with a fast-paced capital, marble gorges, high-altitude tea plantations and some of the best street food in the region. It is compact, safe and easy to travel by train, and suits food lovers, hikers and anyone who enjoys temples and night markets in the same evening.

Where to go

• Taipei. See the city from Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum's vast collection of Chinese art and artefacts, and temples such as Longshan.
• Jiufen and Pingxi. Jiufen, a former gold-mining town, has steep lanes of teahouses with views over the sea.
• Taroko Gorge. Marble cliffs and a turquoise river cut deep into the mountains near Hualien on the east coast.
• Sun Moon Lake. Taiwan's largest lake, in the central mountains, circled by a cycle path, with boat trips between piers, a cable car and the home area of the Thao Indigenous people.

Best time to visit

October to December and March to May are the most comfortable months, with warm days and lower humidity. Summer (June to September) is hot and humid, with afternoon storms and a typhoon season that peaks from roughly July to September.

Staying online in Taiwan

Mobile coverage is very good in cities, along the main rail lines and in most towns, with 4G nearly everywhere and widespread 5G in urban areas. In the high mountains, deep gorges and on remote trails, signal can be weak or missing, so download offline maps before hiking. Free public Wi-Fi exists in many stations, tourist sites and convenience stores. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so maps and translation work from the airport.