Taiwan Travel · by a local
Planning a trip to Taiwan? Let a local help.
Hi — I'm a Taiwanese, and I run a small honesty-first travel blog. Most English guides about Taiwan are written by tourists passing through (or by AI farms). These aren't. I fact-check everything, tell you plainly what's worth it and what isn't, and I flag anything I'm not 100% sure about. No "best 10 things" filler, no fake reviews — just the practical stuff that actually saves you money and hassle.
This English section is brand new — I'm starting with the questions foreign visitors ask most. More guides coming.
Guides
- Planning
Do You Need a Visa for Taiwan? Visa-Free Entry Explained (2026)
Most Western visitors get 90 days visa-free in Taiwan — and if you hold a Canadian or British passport, that can be extended to 180 days, which almost no guide mentions. A Taiwanese local walks through who gets what, the trial schemes that expire and get renewed every July, and one thing I deliberately won't tell you because I couldn't verify it.
Aug 4, 2026
- Money
Cash or Card in Taiwan? What Actually Works (2026)
Taiwan looks cashless on paper — 81.6% of adults use electronic payment, well above the global average. Then you get to a night market and almost nothing takes a card. A Taiwanese local explains where your foreign card actually works, how much cash to carry, the ATM withdrawal limit, and the currency-exchange rule that catches people at the airport on the way home.
Aug 4, 2026
- Weather
When to Visit Taiwan: Typhoon Season by the Numbers (2026)
Most guides just say "summer is typhoon season." That's not useful. Here's Taiwan's official 114-year typhoon record from the Central Weather Administration — which months actually get hit, which three months have never had a single strike, and the thing no foreign guide explains: typhoon days are declared city by city, so Taipei can shut down while Kaohsiung works normally. Written by a Taiwanese local.
Aug 4, 2026
- Transport
How to Get Around Taiwan Without a Car: A Local's Guide (2026)
Do you need to rent a car in Taiwan? Honestly, no — a Taiwanese local explains how to see the whole island on public transport: high speed rail down the west coast, regular trains to the east (Taroko, Taitung), buses to places with no station (Sun Moon Lake, Kenting), metro in the big cities, and one EasyCard tying it all together. What each is for, and when a car actually still makes sense.
Jul 9, 2026
- Transport
EasyCard in Taiwan: A Local's Guide to Buying, Using & Refunding It (2026)
EasyCard is the one thing you should buy the moment you land in Taiwan. A Taiwanese local explains where to get it, what it costs (and why NT$100 of it never comes back), everything it pays for beyond the MRT, and how to get your leftover balance refunded. Prices checked 2026 — verify current numbers before you rely on them.
Jul 8, 2026
- Transport
Taiwan SIM Card or eSIM for Tourists? A Local Explains How to Choose (2026)
Confused whether to get a physical SIM or an eSIM for your Taiwan trip? A Taiwanese local breaks it down honestly — eSIM (cheap, install before you land, skip the airport queue) vs. physical SIM (gives you a real Taiwan phone number, which matters more here than you'd think). Plus airport pickup, the main carriers, and how to actually pick. Prices checked 2026.
Jul 7, 2026
- Transport
Is the Taiwan High Speed Rail Pass Worth It? A Local's Honest Math (2026)
The THSR Pass (2-day / 3-day unlimited) is foreigner-only and sounds like a great deal — but is it actually worth it for your trip? A Taiwanese local breaks down the real break-even math, when to buy it vs. single tickets, and the redeem-code catch nobody warns you about. Prices checked 2026, verify with the official site.
Jul 7, 2026