Summer in Taiwan: Everything You Need to Know

A guide to spending summer in Taipei and summer in Taiwan

Summer in Taiwan is a season that I deeply loathe yet still look forward to every year when living in Taiwan. The summer weather in Taiwan is at its most extreme, with crushing heat, humidity, and a sprinkling of typhoons that wreak death and destruction on the island nation. Yet enduring a summer in Taiwan, …

Read more

60+ Unmissable Landmarks in Taiwan

The most famous landmarks in Taiwan by category

When doing a Google search for Taiwan’s most famous landmarks, I was rather disappointed to find articles mentioning things like fireflies and hot springs. Clearly, the authors don’t know what the word “landmark” means. By definition, a landmark should be something very large, monumental, and visible from afar (that must be a very large firefly!) …

Read more

25 Taipei Indoor Activities for a Rainy Day

Indoor activities for rainy days in Taipei, Taiwan

Did you know that Taipei receives more than twice as much rain per year than Seattle, considered one of the rainiest cities in the United States? Rain is a part of life in the capital of Taiwan. When the rains come down, pedestrians pop open their umbrellas, scooter riders throw on their ponchos, and life …

Read more

A Guide to Taiwan’s Quarantine Hotels and COVID Travel Restrictions

Taiwan COVID restrictions and guidelines

Quick Summary – As of October 13, 2022, Taiwan is totally open to all international tourists. Some can enter visa-free, while others need to apply for a visa (see the full list here). – There is no longer any testing, tracing, quarantine, health forms, special rules, or vaccine (this was never required) to enter Taiwan. …

Read more

A Taiwan Itinerary for 1, 2, or 3 weeks (Slow & Fast Options!)

View of Sun Moon Lake, a necessary stop on any Taiwan itinerary

One of the most common questions about Taiwan that I get from my readers is how to plan the perfect Taiwan travel itinerary. It’s a common story: people look at the map of Taiwan and see that it’s a pretty small country. So they think 7 days in Taiwan will be enough. Once they start …

Read more

Fo Guang Shan, Kaohsiung: How to Visit and Stay at Taiwan’s Biggest Monastery

Painting of Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Fo Guang Big Buddha

Fo Guang Shan (佛光山 or Foguangshan) is one of the four large Buddhist organizations in Taiwan. The order’s headquarters, Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan, is one of Taiwan’s top attractions and most popular places to visit in Kaohsiung. The enormous, sprawling Fo Guang Shan Temple complex more than doubled in size with …

Read more

A Simple Taipei & Taiwan 5 Day Itinerary

A detailed Taipei itinerary for 5 days, which also serves as a Taiwan itinerary for 5 days

I’m not going to lie to you. Spending 5 days in Taiwan is not enough! I can pretty much guarantee that you are going to leave wishing your had more time to explore this compact yet extremely rewarding island nation! (And if you change your mind, here is my recommended Taiwan itinerary for 1 to …

Read more

How to Spend 4 Awesome Days in Taipei

4 days in Taipei, Taipei itinerary 4 days

If you’ve got a trip booked to Taipei, Taiwan, and now you’re wondering how to plan your visit to the capital, you’ve come to the right place. Below I’ll provide multiple options for planning a Taipei 4 day itinerary that is perfect for you, based on my experience living in Taipei for over 10 years …

Read more