When the Dutch sailors first set foot onto Taiwan hundreds of years ago, they aptly named it “Ilsa Formosa,” which directly translates to “beautiful island.” Fortunately, the island has still remained as beautiful as ever.
Taiwan is truly underrated as evident by its popularity compared to the bigger, more famous Asian countries. But 9 times out of ten, the hidden gem turns out to be the much better destination.
I can tell you now, no matter what type of traveler personality you have, Taiwan is the destination for you. It’s because, despite having their own unique and rich culture, the Taiwanese people are exceptionally good at adapting to and integrating with other cultures.
That’s why you’ll find some of the best Italian restaurants, famous American steakhouses, a world-class nightlife, Euro-inspired music festivals and much, much more.
Still not convinced on why Taiwan is the destination to be at? Here are 10 reasons why you should visit Taiwan – now!
Table of Contents
1. Food Capital of the World?
Taipei is the food capital of Asia, and dare I say, the world? I won’t officially make that statement, out of respect to the likes of New York, Paris and Tokyo. But Taiwan is certainly a food country consisting of 24 million foodies, or so it seems.
Just keep in mind that there are an overwhelming number of restaurants in Taipei, and many of them stay in business. If you want to learn more about the amazing food culture in Taiwan – click here.
2. Taiwan is Full of Beautiful Nature
Green is the color to describe Taiwan. Even the metropolitan Taipei City has an abundance of green spread throughout the city (largely due to the consistent rainfall).
But there’s no doubt Taiwan is truly a must-see destination for any nature-lover. Home to Taiping Shan, Sun Moon Lake, Xiang Shan and Taroko Gorge, Taiwan has some of the most beautiful sightseeing attractions.
Pro tip: If you’re into this stuff, head to the East side of Taiwan. But there’s also plenty of natural beauty to explore if you decide to visit Taipei or other west/central cities.
If you’re heading to Taipei, a good beginner’s nature hike is Elephant Mountain, also known as Xiangshan.
3. Their Boba Milk Tea is Unlike Any Other
Have you heard of the delicious “boba” or pearl milk teas? Despite popular belief, the original boba did not come from China – it came from Taiwan.
In the 1980’s a little Taiwanese teashop in Taichung city invented boba. And the teashop responsible for it? My personal favorite place to get milk tea: Chun Shui Tang.
It totally revolutionized the way we enjoy our milk teas. Today, boba milk tea can be found anywhere with Asian people. No really.
Want to know what we think is the BEST milk tea in all of Taipei? It’s better to taste for yourself.
4. The Sky-Towering Taipei 101
If you haven’t heard of this building, you’ve probably been living under a rock. Taipei 101 is the most iconic building in all of Taiwan. From 2004 to 2010, Taipei 101 was officially the tallest building in the world.
The short world-record lasted until the Burj Khalifa was built in Dubai. But still, Taipei 101 remains the largest building in all of Asia.
The building contains a high-end shopping mall, a business center, food court, a Din Tai Fung and more. Oh, and also the world’s fastest elevator that takes you from the 5th floor to the observatory center on the 88th floor in a whooping 37 seconds!
And if you ever get the chance to see it in person, it is truly spectacular to gaze at. Warning: Taipei 101 might cause you to space out in awe.
5. Beautiful Beaches in Taiwan
What kind of island destination doesn’t have beautiful beaches? Although Taiwan isn’t typically known for white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, it’s still home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
From Baishawan beach just north of Taipei, to Waiao Beach in Yilan County, to Kenting National Park down south, beautiful beaches are everywhere.
6. The Friendly and Courteous Taiwanese People
I have been to many places around the world and I can say without doubt, the people of Taiwan are probably the friendliest people in the world, especially to western foreigners.
Why is that the case? It’s because the people here are well in-tune with western culture and fascinated by their music, Hollywood, celebrities and all that.
And as a fellow Taiwanese myself, I know that it’s just in our culture to be friendly and courteous to other people. It’s what we’ve been taught our whole lives.
7. Taiwan is One of the Safest Countries in the World
If a country has friendly and courteous people, shouldn’t it mean the country is relatively safe? Good guess, detective. According to a statistical analysis report published by the U.S. FBI, Taiwan is the second safest country in the world, only behind Japan.
Not once have I ever felt threatened walking around Taiwan by myself late at night. This is the perfect destination for solo and/or female travelers.
8. What Happens in Taipei, Stays in Taipei (Nightlife)
The nightlife in Taipei rivals that of Bangkok, Hong Kong and New York. Nightclubs are the place to be and bars can be found just about anywhere in Xinyi District.
With lively nightclubs, it’s no wonder why foreigners love coming here to party. What’s cool is all the night clubs and bar are pretty much in one area. You can go nightclub-hopping by hopping in an elevator!
Pro-tip: The price of alcoholic drinks and bottles are much cheaper here than other major hubs in Asia (even at the top clubs, lounges and bars). Champagne train every night!
9. Taiwan’s World Famous Night Markets
If there was one thing that Taiwan does best, it’s the night market. I personally love night markets because where else can you shop for nifty accessories and clothes while stuffing your face with fatty fried deliciousness?
There are many big and famous night markets everywhere in Taiwan, up and down the island. And the great part is, each night market is unique in its own way.
The most popular and biggest night market in Taiwan is Shilin Night Market, located in the Shilin District of Taipei. However, there are plenty of other amazing night markets with less tourists.
10. Taiwan is Convenient for Travel
Taiwan is just too convenient is so many ways. For example, Taipei has a robust public transportation system that includes a subway (MRT), cheap uBike rentals, numerous bus routes and relatively cheap taxi rides.
How about traveling to other cities in Taiwan? Taiwan has several train routes and a high-speed rail train to take you there in no time.
But if I can walk, I will always walk. Taiwan is just too fascinating and scenic of a country to not take the long way home (or to a destination).