Taiwan family-friendly travel guide

From March to May, the temperature typically sits around 20 to 25 degrees Celsius making it the perfect time to hike and bike around the beautiful landscapes as well as visit the cherry and plum blossoms.

Typhoon season runs from May to November where hot and humid weather and occasional downpours are expected.

Winter in Taiwan is quite mild with temperatures with average low temperatures of 14 degrees Celsius.

You won’t need a visa to visit if you’re staying less than 90 days and have a confirmed exit ticket, although you’ll need to ensure your passport is valid for at least six months from when you arrive.

For more detailed information, visit the Department of Foregin Affairs and Trade website.

The main airport is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, situated near Taoyuan city, with the only other international airport in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second largest city.  

You can get on a non-stop flights from Europe and North America, but most other flights require a stopover in Asia (typically Hong Kong). There is one direct flight from Sydney to Taiwan with China Airlines.

Taiwan Railway Administration is the railway line offered in major towns and cities, while both Taipei and Kaohsiung have Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) metro systems.

The Kaohsiung MRT connects to the international and domestic airports and single-journey tickets can be bought from the information counters or ticket machines. Multi-day passes are also available. For more information head to the Kaohsiung MRT website.

The Taipei MRT offers also single-journey tickets in addition to multi-day passes. A 30-day All Pass ticket is also available for unlimited travel on the Taipei Metro, Danhai LRT and both Taipei City and New Taipei City buses (except buses charging by distance). The All Pass also gives users 30 free minutes on the city’s YouBikes. For more information, visit the Taipei metro site.

The Taiwan high speed rail (THSR) runs along the west coast connecting eight stations between Taipei and Zuoying. Tickets can be booked online 28 days before the date of departure until one hour before the time of departure. Tickets can be collected from ticket windows and vending machines at any THSR station during opening hours or at partnering convenience stores with the identification used for booking and reservation number. For more information visit the Taiwan high speed rail site.

The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle service is a fuss-free option for travellers wanting to explore the more popular tourist sites with a range of planned shuttle routes. For routes, timetable and fares, visit the shuttle website.

There are regular ferry services to Penghu, Lanyu and Green Island in summer, however services are subject to weather conditions.

Starting from Taipei, head to Taichung to see the stunning Sun Moon Lake, and on to Tainan to see some ancient Chinese architecture. Then stop by Hualien for a slice of island paradise and you can’t miss a stop through Taroko National Park.

Taiwan offers a variety of restaurants to suit any budget. Night markets offer a wide range of choices at cheap prices. More upmarket restaurants can vary from casual to formal and food prices will generally be higher than the food served in roadside stands and small eateries.

Taiwan is a child-friendly country and children are welcome in restaurants. Many upmarket restaurants offer special meals for children, usually consisting of fried chicken or fish. Budget eateries won’t have special menus for children nor will they supply booster seats.

Food in Taiwan is varied and regional so wherever you travel there will be something new to try. Among those must-tastes are soup dumplings, zongzi (steamed rice wrapped in banana leaf) and Taiwanese rice sausages. Taiwanese cuisine also caters to the sweeth tooth with dishes such as mango shaved ice, pineapple cake and a range of fresh seasonal fruit.

Taiwan is a shopper’s paradise with many large shopping centres and markets. Cheap clothing, toys, homewares and trinkets can be purchased at the popular night markets while high-end fashion is available from department stores.

Shilin Night Market in Taipei should be the first stop for seasoned shoppers, where small streets and alleys are packed with bags, shoes, clothes and jewellery, not the mention a range of street food stalls to sustain you on your shopping spree. Other shopping destinations in Taipei include Wun Fen Pu, a wholesale shopping area with over one hundred stores, the six storey tech paradise Guanghua Market and the trendy Ximending district which is to Taipei what Harajuku is to Japan. Core Pacific Living Mall is also one to take note of, where you can bag some bargains while the kids explore the indoor playground, laser tag and go-kart track.

Similar to Taipei, Tainan has shopping to suit every budget. The Central Shopping District has a range of shops as well as an open food market with live music performances over the weekend. Guohua Street is good for those who want to shop like a local while the Shinkong Mitsukoshi Department Store fills nine floors with a range of cosmetics, clothes and children’s wear. For something a bit slower paced, head to Fuzhong Street. This charming tree-lined street is sprinkled with teahouses and cafes and provides a little bit of serenity tucked in the heart of Tainan.

Tipping is customary in Taiwan—usually around 10% in restaurants, bars and on tours.

Taiwan has four seasons. In the summer, pack light and loose clothing, preferably cotton, casual sportswear, and comfortable walking shoes. For winter, pack woollens, sweaters, jackets, pants, socks and wet weather gear for any thunderstorms.

110V, 60Hz AC. Sockets have two vertical slots (you’ll need an adaptor).

In general, internet speed is good in Taiwan. You can rent pocket Wi-Fi or use mobile data. It’s best to assess your own fees and charges when deciding which is more cost-effective.

Crime rates in Taiwan are low, but exercise normal precautions, particularly in high-traffic tourist areas. 110 is the emergency contact number for Police or 119 for Ambulance or Fire.

Consult your doctor about getting vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis before travelling, and as always, take out insurance before you travel.

Typhoons occur during the wet season from May to November and during this time flooding and mudslides are common. Authorities may declare a ‘typhoon day’ on short notice meaning businesses reduce their operating hours while government offices close. In the event of a typhoon, visit the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau for information.

You can also keep up-to-date by checking the websites of the World Meteorological Organisation Severe Weather Information Centre, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre and the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System. You can tune your radio to 100.7 for English-language updates. For more information about safe travel in Taiwan, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade guide.

Languages spoken in Taiwan include Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and Indigenous languages. Travellers to Taiwan can get by without even having to attempt Taiwanese. Virtually all young and middle-aged people speak Mandarin and many older people also know Japanese as a result of the 50-year Japanese occupation of Taiwan. Speaking English is not as common.

Nĭ hăo – Hello (nee how)
Xièxie – Thank you (hsieh hsieh)
Bù hǎo yì si – Excuse me (boo how eeh si)
Cèsuŏ – bathroom (tse sue-oh)
Tīng bù dǒng – I don’t understand (ting boo dong)
Duō shǎo qián? – How much money? (Doo oh show chee an)
Bù hǎo yì si – Pardon me/excuse me (Boo how eeh si)

Towering seven stories high, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas feature a welcome with a difference. An open-mouthed dragon serves as the entrance to the pagodas while you can exit through the tiger’s mouth which symbolises turning bad luck into good fortune. The inside of the pagodas are host to intricate paintings of the 12 Magi and if you’re game enough to tackle the narrow spiral staircases, you will capture some impressive photos of Lotus Lake.

Snapping the perfect shot is a matter of point, shoot and repeat, with no filter needed in the ethereal Rainbow Village. The village was transformed into a technicolour dreamscape by Huang Yong-Fu, affectionately nicknamed ‘Rainbow Grandpa’, in an effort to stop the government demolishing the village, which was originally built to house veteran soldiers. He succeeded, and Rainbow Village now stands as one of the most unique tourist attractions in Taiwan where the buildings are adorned with colourful murals.

This one is definitely worth dragging the kids out of bed for. Catch the ‘sunrise train’ up to the Xiaoliyuan Mountain viewing platform and see the sun rise over the vast forests of Alishan National Scenic Area.  If the weather works in your favour, you might be lucky enough to experience the ‘sea of clouds’ where a thick blanket of sunrise-tinted cloud gathers around the mountain tops below you, making for a magical way to start the day.

Located in a small mountain village about an hour’s drive from Taipei, Jiufen Old Street is adorned with lanterns and brimming with chaotic energy. The narrow alleyway is host to a range of traditional food stalls and tea houses so you can stop and refuel in between snapping all the sights. Also known as ‘dark alley’ due to the canopy that shields vendors from frequent rains, you can be sure that no matter the weather there is always a hustle and bustle on this famous street.

A day spent exploring Taipei can be topped off with sunset city views from the Xiangshan Hiking Trail, otherwise known as Elephant Mountain. Ready your cameras because the view from the top stretches beyond Taipei 101 and across the city. The trail itself is close to the Xinyi Shopping District so it can be easily slotted into a day of taking in the sounds, sights and tastes of Taipei.