Why Taiwan Is One of Asia's Most Underrated Destinations

Japan gets the queues. Thailand gets the Instagram posts. Taiwan quietly gets it right — and most travelers still haven't noticed.

That's not a complaint. Ask anyone who's been, and they'll tell you the same thing: Taiwan is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've discovered something the rest of the world hasn't caught up with yet. The food is extraordinary, the landscapes are wild, the people are genuinely warm without it feeling performative, and the whole island moves at a pace that doesn't exhaust you.

So why does it keep getting overlooked in Asia travel conversations? Partly geography — squeezed between the giants of Japan and mainland China, Taiwan rarely tops the shortlist. Partly perception — people aren't sure what to expect. And partly, honestly, it just hasn't been marketed as aggressively as its neighbors.

That's their loss. And your gain.

The Food Alone Is Worth the Flight

Let's start here, because if you care about eating well — and you should — Taiwan might be the single best destination in Asia for it.

Taiwanese cuisine sits at a crossroads of Chinese, Japanese, and indigenous influences, and the result is something entirely its own. The night markets are the obvious entry point: Shilin in Taipei is the famous one, yes, but the Raohe Street Night Market is smaller, less chaotic, and frankly better. Get the pepper pork bun from the stall just inside the temple gate — they've been making it the same way since 1953, and the queue at 7 PM tells you everything you need to know.

But night markets are just the beginning. Tainan, the island's oldest city, is where Taiwanese food culture runs deepest. A bowl of guabao (braised pork belly in a steamed bun) at a century-old shop on Minquan Road costs around NT$50 — roughly €1.40. Oyster vermicelli, coffin bread, shrimp rolls: Tainan has dishes you won't find anywhere else, and locals there take their food identity seriously. Seriously enough that people drive from Taipei just to eat.

The coffee culture has also exploded over the past decade. Taiwanese specialty coffee shops now rival anything you'd find in Seoul or Tokyo, often with more personality and lower prices.

Landscapes That Most People Don't Expect

Ask someone what they picture when they think of Taiwan, and they'll probably say Taipei's skyline or maybe a night market. What they won't picture: a marble gorge so dramatic it looks digitally enhanced.

Taroko Gorge is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in Asia, full stop. The Liwu River has carved through marble cliffs for millions of years, and the result is a 19-kilometer canyon with walls that shift from white to grey to deep green depending on the light. At 6 AM, when the tour buses haven't arrived yet, the only sounds are the river and the occasional rockfall echo. It's the kind of place that recalibrates your sense of scale.

Further south, Sun Moon Lake sits at 748 meters above sea level in Nantou County, ringed by mountains and tea plantations. The light here is different — softer, more diffuse — and the cycling path that loops around the lake (33 km if you do the full circuit) is one of the most pleasant half-days you'll spend anywhere. Rent a bike at the Shuishe Visitor Center and stop at the Xiangshan Visitor Center overlook on the way back.

Then there's Jiufen, the old gold-mining village perched on the northeast coast that inspired (or so the story goes, though Miyazaki denies it) the spirit world in Spirited Away. The red lanterns, the fog rolling in off the Pacific, the narrow stone staircases — it's atmospheric in a way that photographs can't quite capture. Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends bring crowds that dilute the magic significantly.

Taipei: A Capital City That Actually Works

Most capital cities in Asia are either overwhelming or underwhelming. Taipei is neither.

It's a city of about 2.6 million people that manages to feel genuinely liveable. The MRT system is clean, punctual, and covers almost everywhere you'd want to go. Scooter traffic is chaotic but predictable once you've watched it for five minutes. The neighborhoods are distinct enough to feel like different cities: Da'an for coffee shops and bookstores, Xinyi for glass towers and department stores, Wanhua for old temples and traditional medicine markets.

The National Palace Museum alone could occupy a full day — it holds one of the largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts in the world, most of which were transported to Taiwan in 1949. The Jadeite Cabbage is the famous piece, and yes, it's smaller than you think. But the surrounding collection of bronzes, ceramics, and calligraphy is genuinely world-class. If the imperial history whets your appetite for the mainland, China's Golden Triangle offers a compelling way to explore that world further.

Ximending, the youth culture district, is worth an hour on a Saturday evening just to watch the street performers and absorb the energy. It's a little overwhelming, which is the point.

The South: Kaohsiung and Tainan

Most Taiwan itineraries spend three or four days in Taipei and then either head to Taroko or fly home. That's a mistake.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second city, has reinvented itself over the past 15 years from an industrial port into a genuinely interesting urban destination. The Pier-2 Art Center — a cluster of converted warehouses along the Love River — hosts galleries, food stalls, and independent shops that feel nothing like the rest of Asia. The Lotus Pond pagodas at sunset are a classic shot, but the real Kaohsiung is in the Yancheng district: old shophouses, excellent coffee, and almost no other tourists.

Tainan is a 40-minute high-speed rail ride away and deserves at least two full days. Founded in the 17th century by Dutch colonists and later the capital of the Qing dynasty's Taiwan prefecture, it has more historic temples per square kilometer than anywhere else on the island. Fort Provintia, Chihkan Tower, and the Anping Fort are the obvious stops — but the best thing to do in Tainan is simply walk. The old streets around Shennong Street have been thoughtfully restored without becoming a theme park.

Ease of Travel: The Underappreciated Factor

Here's something that doesn't get said enough: Taiwan is easy.

The high-speed rail (HSR) connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in 90 minutes and costs around NT$1,490 (roughly €42). It runs on time, every time. The intercity bus network fills in the gaps. Signage is in English almost everywhere that matters. Google Maps works perfectly, including for transit directions.

English proficiency is high enough in cities that you'll rarely feel stranded. And when you do hit a language barrier, Taiwanese people will go to extraordinary lengths to help — pulling out phones to translate, walking you to the right bus stop, drawing maps on napkins. This isn't a cultural performance; it's just how people are.

Taiwan also has a well-developed network of tourist information centers, particularly around major attractions. The Taroko National Park Visitor Center, for instance, provides free maps, trail conditions, and shuttle schedules — genuinely useful, not just decorative.

Practical Considerations Before You Go

Visa: Many nationalities can enter Taiwan visa-free for 30–90 days. Check the Bureau of Consular Affairs for the current list — it's regularly updated.

Currency: The New Taiwan Dollar (NT$ or TWD). ATMs are everywhere and accept international cards. Credit cards work in most hotels and larger restaurants, but street food and traditional markets are cash-only. Carry NT$1,000–2,000 in small bills.

Getting around: The HSR is the backbone for intercity travel. Within Taipei, the MRT is your best friend. For Taroko Gorge, book the Taroko National Park shuttle bus in advance — especially in spring and autumn, spots fill up fast.

Weather: Taiwan has a subtropical climate with a typhoon season running roughly June through October. The northeast (Taipei, Jiufen) gets significantly more rain than the south. October through April is generally considered the best window — mild temperatures, lower humidity, and the cherry blossoms arrive in late January or February in higher elevations.

Budget: Taiwan is not as cheap as Southeast Asia, but it's considerably more affordable than Japan. A sit-down lunch at a local restaurant runs NT$120–200 (€3–6). A night in a solid mid-range hotel in Taipei costs NT$2,500–4,000 (€70–110). The HSR is the main transport expense, but it's worth every cent.

Why Now Is the Right Time

Taiwan's tourism infrastructure has matured significantly over the past decade, but it hasn't yet tipped into the kind of over-tourism that's made parts of Japan and Thailand genuinely unpleasant to visit. The crowds at Jiufen on a Tuesday are nothing compared to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari on any given weekend. Sun Moon Lake at dawn is still quiet enough to hear the birds.

That won't last forever. Visitor numbers are climbing, and word is spreading. The window to experience Taiwan before it becomes a bucket-list cliché is open — but it won't stay open indefinitely.

If you're planning an Asia trip and haven't seriously considered Taiwan, reconsider. It's not a consolation prize for travelers who couldn't get to Japan — if anything, it pairs beautifully with a trip through the region, much like the experiences on offer with Japan of a Thousand Wonders. It's a destination that stands entirely on its own terms, with a culture, cuisine, and landscape that are genuinely unlike anywhere else on the continent.

The travelers who've been there already know this. Now you do too.

Looking to explore Taiwan with expert local guidance? Discover our Taiwan tours and itineraries — from private tailor-made trips to small group experiences designed for curious travelers. Or read our Taiwan First-Timer's Guide for practical planning advice.