Taiwan has always been one of my favorite international trips and honestly? It was also my first solo travels. If you’ve been on the fence about visiting, let this be your sign.
Taiwan is affordable, beginner-friendly, and so worth the hype. From the iconic Taipei 101 to the misty mountains of Alishan, there’s a lot to cover in a week and yes, you can absolutely DIY the entire thing.
This is an updated version of my original Taiwan travel guide, now stretched to 7 days so you can experience more of the island without feeling rushed.
I’ve been back, I’ve done the Northern Coast, Sun Moon Lake, Taichung, and Alishan – and I can confidently say: Taiwan just keeps getting better.
When to Visit Taiwan
The best time to visit Taiwan is during spring (March–May) or fall (October–November). The weather is cooler and more comfortable for walking around, and the landscapes are stunning – cherry blossoms in spring, golden foliage in fall.
Avoid June to September if you can. It’s typhoon season, plus the summer heat and humidity hit different (think Manila-level humidity but worse). January to February is peak season thanks to Chinese New Year – expect higher hotel prices and bigger crowds.
For budget travelers, September to November is the sweet spot: fewer tourists, lower accommodation prices, and great weather overall.
How to Get to Taiwan from Manila
Flying from Manila to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) takes around 2.5 to 3 hours – short enough that you won’t feel the need for a red-eye. Direct flights are available from NAIA Terminal 1, 2, and 3.
Airlines flying this route include:
- Cebu Pacific
- Philippine Airlines
- AirAsia
- EVA Air
- China Airlines
- Starlux Airlines
As of 2025–2026, budget round-trip airfare starts at around PHP 5,000 to PHP 10,000, depending on when you book and which airline you choose. The cheapest deals are usually with Cebu Pacific or AirAsia during seat sales.
Okay so I have to say it again — the Cebu Pacific seat sale never misses. Just like my first Taiwan trip back in 2019, I scored a round-trip ticket for around PHP 4,000+ from Manila to Taipei. I booked it roughly a month before my trip, which honestly just proves that you don’t always need to plan super far ahead. Just watch those seat sales and move fast when they drop.
Booking tip: Book at least 2–3 months in advance for better rates. Watch out for seat sales from low-cost carriers – they pop up on random Tuesdays, so set those Google Alerts now.
Do Filipinos Need a Visa for Taiwan?
Great news – as of writing, Filipinos can enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 14 days under Taiwan’s extended visa-waiver program, which is currently valid until July 31, 2026. Since this is a 7-day trip, you’re well within the limit.
Entry requirements:
- Philippine passport valid for at least 6 months upon entry
- Confirmed return or onward ticket
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or Airbnb)
- Completed Taiwan digital arrival card (filled online within 3 days before arrival – note that as of October 2025, Taiwan has fully switched to digital arrival cards only)
- Proof of sufficient funds
Important reminder: The visa-free program is subject to review and extension. Always check the official Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) website or the Bureau of Consular Affairs before booking your trip.
Taiwan Must-Haves (READ THIS)
Before we get into the itinerary, let’s talk about the essentials – because getting these wrong can mess up your trip before it even starts.
SIM Card or eSIM
You need mobile data the moment you land, full stop. Taiwan’s MRT and navigation apps are your lifeline, and you need internet to use them properly.
You can grab a local SIM at the airport upon arrival – it’s convenient and easy. However, if you prefer a hassle-free setup before your flight, an eSIM works great too.
EasyCard (Important Note!)
The EasyCard is your go-to contactless payment card for MRT rides, buses, convenience stores, and even some restaurants. You can get it on Klook in advance, but here’s the thing – if you’re arriving on a red-eye or very early flight, the claiming booths at Taoyuan Airport may still be closed. The booths typically open at 6:00 AM.
The easy workaround? Just head to any 7-Eleven store in Taiwan and buy your EasyCard there. They’re everywhere, open 24/7, and the card costs around NTD 100 (roughly PHP 165). Top it up at the MRT station or at any convenience store counter.
Travel Insurance
Please, please don’t skip travel insurance. It’s cheap and it covers so much – medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage, and more. It’s the most boring thing you’ll buy for your trip and also the most important.
Other Must-Haves
- Power bank – you’ll be on your phone all day for maps and translations
- Comfortable walking shoes – Taiwan is very walkable but you will log serious steps
- Light jacket or layer – even in summer, the MRT and malls are freezing cold
- Reusable water bottle – tap water in Taiwan is generally safe after boiling; convenience stores also sell affordable bottled water
- Cash (NTD) – most night markets and small eateries are cash-only
- Small medicine kit – bring your usual meds, especially for motion sickness if you’re headed to mountain areas like Alishan
Money Exchange in Taiwan
Taiwan’s currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD). As of writing, the exchange rate is roughly PHP 1.65 per NTD, though this changes regularly.
Tips:
- Exchange at the airport money changers upon arrival – rates are decent and it’s the most convenient option
- Avoid airport ATMs if you can, as withdrawal fees add up
- Bring a mix of cash and a credit/debit card for flexibility
- Night markets and small food stalls are almost always cash-only
- 7-Eleven and FamilyMart ATMs accept most international cards
For a 7-day budget trip, a daily spending estimate of around NTD 1,500–2,500 (PHP 2,475–4,125) is reasonable, covering food, transport, and entrance fees.
Where to Stay in Taiwan
For accommodation, Last year, I went with Airbnb again and got a private bedroom with a shared bathroom for PHP 3,600 for 5 days in Datong District, just 8 minutes from Taipei Main Station.
That’s genuinely hard to beat.
That said, Airbnb isn’t the only option. 12GoAsia, Agoda, and Booking.com all have solid budget picks, especially near MRT stations.
For this 7-day trip, you’ll be moving around – Taipei, Taichung, and potentially overnight stays near Sun Moon Lake or Alishan. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Stay near Taipei Main Station or Ximen Station for the best access to the MRT and tourist spots.
- Budget hostels: NTD 500–1,000/night (PHP 825–1,650) – shared dorms
- Budget private rooms: NTD 1,000–2,500/night (PHP 1,650–4,125)
- Airbnb is also a solid option for longer stays and can be more affordable for private rooms
How to Get Around Taiwan
MRT (Mass Rapid Transit)
The MRT is your best friend in Taipei. It’s clean, efficient, air-conditioned, and has English signage throughout. Load your EasyCard and tap in and out at every station. Fares are around NTD 20–65 (PHP 33–107) per trip.
Uber
Yes, Uber operates in Taiwan and works just like back home. It’s great for late-night trips or when carrying heavy luggage. Slightly more expensive than MRT but super convenient.
Intercity Travel: Train and Bus
For getting between cities (Taipei → Taichung → Alishan), you have two main options:
- Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR): Fast and comfortable. Taipei to Taichung is about 45 minutes. Pricier but worth it for the time saved.
- Taiwan Railways (TRA): Slower but cheaper. Good for scenic routes.
- Kuo-Kuang Bus: Budget-friendly option for routes like Taipei to Sun Moon Lake (around NTD 470 one way).
Book intercity trains in advance, especially during peak season.
7-Day Taiwan Itinerary
Day 1 and 2: Taipei City Tour
Your first two days are all about getting to know Taipei – iconic landmarks, food, and nightlife.
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
One of the most photographed spots in Taipei. The changing of the guard ceremony happens every hour on the dot, and the wide plaza around it is perfect for a walk. Entry is free. Give it about 1–2 hours.
National Palace Museum
If you’re into history and culture (or even just impressive architecture), this museum is worth a half-day visit. It houses one of the largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts in the world. Entrance fee is around NTD 350 for adults (PHP 578). Grab an audio guide for the full experience.
Taipei 101 and the Xinyi District
You cannot go to Taiwan without at least seeing Taipei 101 up close. The observation deck has an entrance fee of around NTD 600 (PHP 990) – worth it for the view. But if you’re on a budget, the view from the nearby malls and streets is also pretty great.
Hidden gem in Xinyi District: There’s a really charming alley near Taipei 101 in Ankang Village that most tourists miss. Head to Takemura Izakaya – a cozy Japanese restaurant tucked inside the alley. The full address is: 三樓, No. 2號, Alley 1, Lane 253, Songren Rd, Ankang Village, Xinyi District. The food is amazing and it’s one of those spots that feels like a local secret. We stumbled into this and it quickly became a favorite.
Ximending
Think: Binondo meets Shibuya. Ximending is Taipei’s youth culture hub – covered in street art, indie shops, and all kinds of street food. Great spot for evening wandering and snacking. Very chill and walkable.
Xing Fu Tang is one of the most popular brown sugar boba spots in Taiwan – the OG, honestly. Expect a line but it moves fast and it’s 100% worth it.
Over in Ximending, hunt down the milky crispy donut stalls. They’re hard to miss and even harder to eat just one – light, airy, and dangerously good street food.
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
For a view of Taipei 101 from above without the entrance fee, hike up Elephant Mountain. It’s about a 20–30 minute hike up and the views at the top are iconic. Best done at golden hour or just before sunset.
Maokong Gondola
A gondola ride up to the hillside tea district of Maokong – gorgeous views over Taipei and great tea houses at the top. Round trip costs around NTD 120 (PHP 198) with an EasyCard.
Night Markets
Taiwan’s night markets deserve their own trip, honestly. For your first night, try Shilin Night Market – the most famous one, great for food and shopping. On your second night, check out Raohe Night Market for a slightly more local feel.
Klook.comDay 3: Northern Coast Tour
This was one of the highlights of my updated Taiwan experience – and honestly one of the best days of the whole trip.
The Northern Coast of Taiwan has dramatic cliffs, rock formations, and some of the most stunning coastal scenery you’ll see anywhere in Asia. Major stops include:
- Yehliu Geopark – famous for the mushroom-shaped rock formations, especially the “Queen’s Head”
- Jiufen Old Street – the hilltop town that inspired Spirited Away. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s absolutely stunning, especially in the evening when the lanterns are lit
- Shifen Waterfall and Sky Lanterns – releasing a sky lantern here is a classic Taiwan experience
- Jinguashi – old gold mine town with incredible ocean views
Highly recommended: Book a tour with Kuya Kris.
If you’re doing this trip with friends or want a guided Northern Coast experience, I cannot recommend Travel Taiwan with Kuya Kris enough. He’s Filipino, speaks fluent Mandarin (which is super helpful when dealing with locals), incredibly knowledgeable about the area, and also a great photographer – so your photos will actually look good.
He helped our group with the Northern Coast, Sun Moon Lake, and beyond. If you want a guide who actually explains the history and culture behind every stop (and not just rushes you through), Kuya Kris is the one.
👉 Join the group: Travel Taiwan with Kuya Kris on Facebook.
Day 4: Taichung + Green Fantasy Forest
Take the HSR or TRA from Taipei to Taichung in the morning. Taichung is Taiwan’s second-largest city and has a very different vibe from Taipei – more artsy, more laid-back, and honestly underrated.
Xiao Putuo Island and the Rainbow Village
While in Taichung, walk around the city center. The Rainbow Village is a colorful installation art village painted entirely by a local elderly man – it’s free to enter and super unique.
Green Fantasy Forest
One of the most unexpected highlights of central Taiwan. The Green Fantasy Forest ( is a cool, misty bamboo forest near Nantou. The surrounding area has been developed into a quirky village with themed hotels, food stalls, and forest walks.
It’s about a 1.5 to 2-hour bus ride from Taichung. The entrance fee is around NTD 200 (PHP 330). Definitely bring a jacket – it gets cold and foggy up there.
Day 5: Sun Moon Lake
One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited in my life – no exaggeration. Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s largest freshwater lake, surrounded by misty mountains in Nantou County. The name comes from its shape: one side looks like the sun, the other like a crescent moon.
Getting there from Taichung:
Take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus from Taichung Train Station (or from Taichung HSR Station) directly to Sun Moon Lake’s Shuishe Visitors Center. The shuttle runs several times a day and costs around NTD 200 one way.
Things to do at Sun Moon Lake:
- Rent a bicycle and cycle the lakeside path (especially the new trail from Ita Thao to Nine Frogs Stack, opened in 2025)
- Take a boat ride across the lake
- Ride the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car) – round trip around NTD 300 – for stunning aerial views
- Visit Wenwu Temple and Ci’en Pagoda
- Explore the indigenous Thau village of Ita Thao for local snacks and culture
Tip: Staying overnight near the lake is absolutely worth it. The early morning mist over the lake is surreal. Shuishe Village has good budget guesthouses within walking distance of the boat pier.
Day 6: Alishan
Alishan is the mountain experience of Taiwan. Famous for ancient cedar forests, a historic narrow-gauge railway, and a sunrise above the clouds that will genuinely move you, this is a bucket-list stop.
Getting there:
From Taichung or from near Sun Moon Lake, you can take a bus to Chiayi first, then either:
- Take the Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi to Alishan (around 3.5 hours through gorgeous mountain scenery) – note: tickets are limited and sell out fast, book well in advance via the official Alishan ticketing site or Klook
- Take a direct bus or private transfer from Chiayi
The forest railway is highly recommended for the experience alone, but be aware that as of 2026, the booking system requires payment immediately – the old grace period is gone. Reserve early.
Alishan entrance fee: Around NTD 300–400 (PHP 495–660) for the recreation area.
Things to do in Alishan:
- Watch the sunrise from Zhushan (book the early morning branch line train the night before)
- Walk through the ancient cedar and cypress forest trails
- Visit the Sacred Tree and Shenmu Station
- Ride the loop railway through the forest
- Try the Fenqihu bento box – it’s a classic Alishan railway lunch that’s been around for decades
Day 7: Taipei – Shopping, Rest, and Departure
Your last day is for decompressing and last-minute shopping before your flight home. Head back to Taipei in the morning (HSR from Chiayi to Taipei takes about 1.5 hours).
Last-day checklist:
- Breakfast at a local coffee shop or traditional Taiwanese breakfast spot (Dan Bing – egg crepe – is a must)
- Shopping at Zhongshan Underground Mall or Guanghua Digital Plaza for tech and gadgets
- Souvenir hunting at Ximending or any 7-Eleven for classic Taiwan snacks (nougat, pineapple cake, Sun Cake from Taichung if you grabbed some)
- Return your EasyCard at the airport for a refund of remaining balance (minus a NTD 20 handling fee)
- Airport tip: Taoyuan Airport is huge – arrive at least 2.5 to 3 hours before your flight. The MRT from Taipei Main Station to the airport takes about 35 minutes.
Things to Remember in Taiwan
- Fill out your digital arrival card within 3 days before arrival – Taiwan is fully digital now (no paper cards)
- EasyCard booth at Taoyuan Airport opens at 6:00 AM – if you arrive on a red-eye, just buy it at the nearest 7-Eleven instead
- Night markets are cash-only – always carry NTD on you
- MRT rules are strict – no eating or drinking inside stations or trains; fines are real
- Book Alishan Forest Railway tickets early – they sell out weeks in advance especially during peak season
- Respect temple etiquette – dress modestly, be quiet, and follow posted rules at religious sites
- Typhoon advisories – if traveling June to September, check weather news regularly; flights may be cancelled
- Beware of taxi overcharging – always use the meter or stick to Uber and MRT when possible
- Mandarin goes a long way – locals appreciate even simple phrases. “Xièxiè” (謝謝) means thank you
- Return flight must be confirmed – immigration may ask for proof of onward travel, so have that booking ready
Budget Summary
All estimates are approximate and based on 2025–2026 pricing. Prices vary depending on booking time, season, and travel choices.
| Expense | Estimated Cost (PHP) |
|---|---|
| Round-trip airfare (budget) | PHP 5,000 – 10,000 |
| Accommodation (7 nights mixed) | PHP 7,000 – 14,000 |
| Food (daily avg PHP 800–1,200) | PHP 5,600 – 8,400 |
| MRT + intercity transport | PHP 3,000 – 5,000 |
| Tours (Northern Coast, etc.) | PHP 2,000 – 4,000 |
| Entrance fees (Alishan, etc.) | PHP 2,000 – 3,500 |
| SIM card or eSIM | PHP 500 – 1,000 |
| Travel insurance | PHP 500 – 1,000 |
| EasyCard | PHP 200 |
| Souvenirs and miscellaneous | PHP 1,500 – 3,000 |
| Travel Style | Estimated Total (7 Days) |
|---|---|
| Budget DIY | PHP 27,000 – 35,000 |
| Mid-range DIY | PHP 40,000 – 55,000 |
| Comfortable | PHP 60,000 and up |
Prices may change depending on season, booking time, and exchange rate. Always check current rates before booking.
Final Thoughts
Taiwan is genuinely one of the best first international trips a Filipino traveler can take. It’s close, affordable, culturally rich, and incredibly easy to navigate on your own. A 7-day itinerary gives you enough time to go beyond just Taipei and explore the real heart of the island – the mountains, the lakes, the forests, and the local culture.
Whether you’re doing this completely solo or with friends, Taiwan rewards curious, adventurous travelers. Do your research, book your Alishan train early, grab your EasyCard at 7-Eleven if you arrive late, and just go.
You’ll come back wanting more.
FAQs
Is Taiwan visa-free for Filipinos? Yes, as of writing, Filipinos can enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 14 days under a program valid until July 31, 2026. A 7-day trip is well within the limit. Always confirm the latest policy before booking.
How much budget do I need for 7 days in Taiwan? For a budget DIY traveler from the Philippines, prepare around PHP 27,000 to PHP 35,000 all-in, including airfare. Mid-range travelers should budget PHP 40,000–55,000.
How many days are enough for Taiwan? Seven days gives you a solid mix of Taipei city life, the Northern Coast, Taichung, Sun Moon Lake, and Alishan. If you have more time, you can add Tainan or Taroko Gorge.
Is Taiwan safe for solo travelers? Yes, Taiwan is consistently ranked among the safest countries in Asia. Solo travel – including for women – is very common and generally hassle-free.
What is the best month to visit Taiwan? March to May (spring) and October to November (fall) offer the best combination of good weather, manageable crowds, and reasonable prices. Avoid typhoon season (June–September) if possible.
Prices and travel requirements are estimates based on information available as of writing. Always check official sources and airline websites before booking. Exchange rates and travel policies may change.
