Taiwan is one of the countries in my bucket list. So when the opportunity to travel there presented itself, I didn’t hesitate to grab it. It was August of last year when we booked a flight to Taiwan; the original date of travel was February 8-18, 2024. However, we found out in January that the Lunar New Year fell on that date, so we decided to rebook it to March 14-24, 2024.
March is spring in Taiwan, and according to our research, the weather there is still cold in March so we brought with us a few lightweight cardigans and jackets. Personally, I didn’t expect that Taiwan is colder than Hong Kong, so I was a bit surprised when we got there. It was really cold, like an airconditioned room temperature or colder, which I actually love.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I really like cold weather. That may be one of the reasons why I really enjoyed our stay in Taiwan. If you also love cold weather, I recommend visiting Taiwan between December and March since these months are their winter and spring seasons. Just don’t forget to pack thicker jackets and cardigans if you visit Taiwan between December and February as it’s winter during those months.
Planning Your Trip to Taiwan
Since we visited Taiwan before July 31, 2024, we didn’t have to prepare a lot of documents since it’s still visa-free for up to 14 days for Filipino travelers. Among the documents that we prepared are just the usual suspects – round trip plane tickets, travel insurance, hotel accommodation, Klook bookings, day-to-day itinerary, certificate of employment, leave form, company ID, the Philippine eTravel pass, and the Taiwan Arrival card.
Aside from the day tours that we booked through Klook, we also bought the EasyCard with 10 days unlimited data SIM card, 3-day unlimited MRT travel pass and the 3-day High Speed Rail (HSR) unlimited pass. Taiwan’s EasyCard is widely accepted and can be used in trains, buses, convenience stores and other designated retailers such as department stores, restaurants and many more.
Part of our research before going to Taiwan is the card that we will use to withdraw money from ATMs. And speaking from my personal experience, I recommend using your GCash Visa Card to withdraw money at any Cathay United Bank ATM. This will give you the best real-time exchange rate of NT$ 1 = ₱1.76 (the real-time exchange rate on that day) and save yourself from conversion fees and other bank charges.
Getting to Taiwan
Our flight to Taiwan was via China Airlines. It was our first time flying with them, and they didn’t disappoint. The seats are comfortable and comes with a small in-flight entertainment screen where you can watch movies and listen to music. They even provide a free personal headset.
Using the in-flight entertainment screen, you can also monitor your flight duration any time you want. They also provide pillows and blankets (upon request) as well as food (packed meal with side dish, fruits, cookie and bread) and beverages.
When we arrived in Taipei, we immediately claimed our EasyCard with SIM at the airport lobby and then took a ride in the Airport MRT going to the city center. It was a smooth and convenient one-hour ride while enjoying the scenery.
Our hotel is located in Banqiao District so we alighted at the Taipei Main Station since we need to transfer to another MRT line going to Banqiao District.
Just like Singapore and Hongkong, Taiwan’s public transportation is very efficient because of the MRT and the HSR. You can travel to different places around Taipei by taking the MRT – no need to spend a lot of money on taxis and Uber. And of course, one essential companion during your travels around Taiwan is the EasyCard.
Accommodation
As mentioned before, our hotel is located at Banqiao District, an hour away from the airport. We actually had a hard time searching for a budget hotel that would accommodate up to three people.
Thankfully, we found one in Sofu Hotel. We booked it through Agoda for around ₱33,000 or around ₱3,300 per night, good for 3 adults for 10 nights. We didn’t expect much from it since it’s just a budget hotel, but it actually exceeded our expectations. The room was clean, had two queen-size beds, and included basic toiletries such as toilet paper, shampoo, comb, toothbrush, and toothpaste. They also provided clean towels and four bottles of water that were replenished daily.
However, hotels located in the Ximending neighborhood in Wanhua District are also great options since there are many tourist spots around the area. It’s also a shopping district for Taiwan souvenirs and delicious food including the famous Xing Fu Tang milk tea and Mala Hotpot.
Taiwan Day-to-Day Itinerary
We spent 10 nights in Taiwan and we still felt that it was just a short stay and wished for an extension. If only money is not an issue and work is not waiting for us, then we could have stayed for another couple of nights. Haha. Kidding aside, I’m sharing with you our Taiwan DIY itinerary for your convenience when visiting Taiwan soon.
Day 1, March 14, 2024 (Thursday) – Arrival at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
For Day 1, we didn’t do much since this is just the day of our arrival in Taiwan. We just checked in to our hotel and searched for a nearby restaurant where we had our dinner. After that, we returned to the hotel and rested to prepare for the next day.
Day 2, March 15, 2024 (Friday) – Taipei Tour
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial House
We visited the memorial house of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China. It was said that China was ruled by emperors before and he fought to liberate China from their rule. This Japanese-style house is the former residence of Dr. Sun’s wife and children, and is the home of several artifacts and old furniture. Entrance is free but picture-taking is not allowed inside the house.
National Taiwan Museum
If you want to see centuries-old exhibits and artifacts, then you shouldn’t miss the National Taiwan Museum. The entrance fee is only NT$ 30 and you can leave the place and return anytime on the same day.
Liberty Square Arch
This freedom square is a must-visit public plaza in Taipei as it serves as the gateway to Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
This is a national monument built in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek – the first President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The memorial hall is free to enter, and one thing you shouldn’t miss is the hourly changing of the guards.
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
This is a place to stroll around for leisure and window shopping of Taiwanese artworks. Souvenir items, shows and food are quite expensive. We didn’t spend much time here since we were not planning to watch any shows, but it’s a great place to visit if you are into Taiwanese art. There are many Instagrammable spots as well.
After visiting the Huashan 1914 Creative Park, we were supposed to have dinner at Mala Hotpot at Ximending. Sadly, they were fully booked when we got there, so we just made a reservation for the next day’s dinner.
We wandered around the streets of Ximending, until we came across this long queue. It was the famous Xing Fu Tang store so we decided to line up as well and grab their signature milk tea and chicken combo. We also tried their pork xiao long bao and just like the milk tea and chicken, it did not disappoint.
This Xing Fu Tang store actually doesn’t have a dine-in option, so we went to their other store in front of Uniqlo just a few steps away. They have a strict “one order per person” requirement if you want to dine in, so we ordered 2 xiao long bao and 1 braised pork. The braised pork was delicious but it was kinda oily and fatty, so I’m gonna give it a 7 out of 10. But the milk tea, chicken and xiao long bao are definitely a 10 out of 10 for me. After having our scrumptious dinner, we then went back to the hotel.
Day 3, March 16, 2024 (Saturday)
Taipei Zoo
Prior to Taipei Zoo, I have already been to Singapore Zoo and Hong Kong Ocean Park, so I wasn’t really excited. Plus, I did not wear comfortable shoes so I was minding my feet about an hour after we left our hotel. So lesson learned when traveling: always wear comfy shoes – rubber shoes to be specific. Don’t overestimate the ability of your feet to endure uncomfortable shoes, you will regret for sure, trust me.
We didn’t spend a lot of time in Taipei Zoo, we just looked at the panda and the penguins and then rode the shuttle train to the Maokong Gondola cable cars. I had already experienced riding the cable car in Hong Kong (Ngong Ping 360), but I still want to experience it again in Taiwan for comparison. Plus, the Taipei Zoo tickets that we bought through Klook already includes the cable car ride. It was a pleasant experience throughout – the scenic view of the city was just a bonus.
When we arrived at Maokong Gondola station, we decided to have our lunch there. We tried their scallion pancake with egg and the Taiwanese sausage, and then oolong tea ice cream for dessert. Afterwards, we rode a bus back to the MRT station. If there was one thing that we regret not doing during our Taiwan trip, it’s that we didn’t take the cable car ride back to the Taipei Zoo. It would have been easier and would have saved us more time for the next itinerary on our list.
Lohas Park
Also included in our to-do list is to see the cherry blossoms in person. Based on our research, Lohas Park is one of the places in Taipei where you can see the cherry blossoms up close and personal. And as expected, we did see it there first.
As previously mentioned, we reserved a seat at Mala Hotpot for this day, so we went there right away after visiting Lohas Park. Mala Hotpot is a must-try restaurant in Taiwan. It’s an “eat all you can” hotpot restaurant with a wide variety of fruits and ice cream (Häagen Dazs and Mövenpick). The price is NT$ 898 per person for unlimited servings of meat, sides, fruits and ice cream. Just make sure to reserve a seat at least one day before because they are always fully booked. Also, they don’t accept credit cards so make sure to prepare enough cash.
Day 4, March 17, 2024 (Sunday)
Holy Family Catholic Church
Our first order of business for this day is to attend the Holy Mass so went to the Holy Family Catholic Church, which is the largest Catholic Church in Taiwan. After the mass, we went to Daan Park since it is just nearby. Daan Forest Park is a public park where you can enjoy the nature scenery like trees, grass and flowers. It is conveniently located near Daan MRT station so you can ride the train after enjoying the park.
After strolling in the park, we went straight to the Ichiran Main Branch for lunch. This is the flagship Ichiran store in Taiwan, so we expected a long queue. But since Ichiran is one food that we didn’t want to miss in Taiwan, we waited patiently for our turn. We waited for more or less 80 minutes before we could finally eat our lunch. And yes, it was worth the wait! You must try Ichiran ramen when you’re in Taiwan or Hong Kong. Well, if you have been to Japan, then the Ichiran experience maybe is incomparable.
We walked a few blocks to find a perfect spot to have a photo of the famous Taipei 101. Then, we went to Simple Kaffa cafe at the 88th floor of the Taipei 101 building to enjoy the day view of the city. We just informed the lobby receptionist that we will order a takeaway coffee so we will be given a coupon pass to the 88th floor of the building. It was a mesmerizing experience for only NT$ 220 per person for a cup of drinks, much cheaper than the Taipei 101 observatory ticket which costs NT$600 per person.
We then went to Shilin Night Market for dinner. Honestly, night markets are probably not for me. Yes, the food is delicious, but I don’t know, I really didn’t enjoy it. Maybe it’s because of the crowd and the food overload. Also, I realized that I prefer to eat food that was cooked behind my back, instead of seeing it prepared and cooked in front of me. Haha. Kidding aside, Shilin Night Market is often considered as the largest and most famous night market in Taipei that you shouldn’t miss.
Some food recommendations at the Shilin Night Market which we tried are the XXL Taiwanese fried chicken, scallion and pork meat bun, and Taiwanese sausage wrapped in sticky rice. If you are into night markets and don’t mind the crowd, then you might as well try other food that we weren’t able to try. I believe there are still so many delicious food at the Shilin Night Market that are worth trying.
Day 5, March 18, 2024 (Monday) – New Taipei Day Tour
We booked this New Taipei day tour through Klook for a hassle-free and more convenient experience for only ₱5,420 for 3 persons. The first stop is Yehliu Geopark.
Yehliu Geopark
At the Yehliu Geopark, you will see many strange-looking natural rock formations. One of which is the Queen’s Head, the most famous natural rock formation in Taiwan. It is more than 3,000 years old and shaped like the head of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Unfortunately, it is expected to disappear in three years due to soil erosion. If you are planning to visit Taiwan very soon, then visit this place to see it before it’s gone!
Jiufen Old Street
This old, narrow street is like a night market that’s open during daytime. Here you can see all kinds of stores – restaurants, souvenirs and snacks. If the night market is not your cup of tea, then I suggest visiting Jiufen Old Street. I enjoyed it here compared to the Shilin Night Market.
Shifen Old Street
Just like Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Old Street also features various shops selling souvenirs and food items. The difference between the two is that Shifen has an old railway which is also the location for the Sky Lantern activity. If you visit here, it’s best to try their rice stuffed chicken wings and peanut ice cream.
Shifen Waterfall
About 20 minutes away from Shifen Old Street is the Shifen Waterfall. It’s a must-visit scenic waterfall that is often called the “Little Niagara Falls of Taiwan.” However, before you reach the largest waterfall in Taiwan, you will also experience walking across the Jing’an suspension bridge. This hanging bridge is made of metal and wood, and connects the villages of Shifen and Nanshan. If you are afraid of heights, think twice before crossing this bridge.
Day 6, March 19, 2024 (Tuesday) – Yangminshan and Beitou Day Tour
Yangmingshan National Park
One of the most visited attractions in the park is the Flower Clock. It features beautiful flowers that were designed to look and act like a clock. It also plays music every hour. Aside from that, there were many cherry trees and we were fortunate enough to see a lot of cherry blossoms, much more than we saw at Lohas Park.
Beitou Hot Spring Museum / Thermal Valley
Originally built as a bathhouse by the Japanese colonial government, this museum offers free admission. However, they will require you to take off your shoes and leave them at the lockers and to use the in-house slippers instead. Inside the museum are historical exhibits about the history of Beitou and its hot springs. It definitely gives you an insight on the significant role of hot springs in Taiwanese society.
About 5-10 mins walk from the museum is the Beitou Geothermal Valley which is also one of the most visited tourist spots in the area. Admission is also free, so you can really enjoy its surreal sulfuric atmosphere without paying anything. It is also known as the “Hell Valley” and features a fenced-off walkway for the safety of tourists since its temperature ranges from 80 to 100 degrees Celsius.
After taking a few Instagrammable photos at the Thermal Valley, we had dinner at Ichiran and went back to Simple Kaffa cafe for a nighttime city view from the 88th floor of Taipei 101. And it didn’t disappoint, the view was totally mesmerizing and more scenic because of the beautiful city lights. It’s a great way to relax your body and soul from a tiresome trip during the day.
Day 7, March 20, 2024 (Wednesday) – Taichung Day
Zhongshe Flower Market
For only NT$120, you can visit the Zhongshe Flower Market – a must-visit for flower lovers. It is often called the Zhongshe Sea of Flowers because of its large fields of flowers such as roses, tulips, lavender, sunflowers and many more. In here, you can get more Instagram-worthy shots. So check it out and don’t forget to take a side trip to Taichung when you’re in Taiwan.
Miyahara Ice Cream
When you are in Taichung, you might as well visit this cafe with its unique historic building and delicious ice cream. We tried their flavor of the day for around NT$388. We literally had a bowl of ice cream with luxurious toppings such as pineapple cake, cheesecake, and strawberries.
Chun Shui Tang Original Store (Milk Tea)
Next on the list was Chun Shui Tang, the origin of milk tea or bubble tea. It is said that the owner of this store, Liu Han-Chieh, was the inventor of boba tea, so we decided to try it.
Take note that they require at least one order per person if you want to dine in at their store. A glass of small size milk tea costs NT$70 while medium size milk tea is priced at NT$90. You can request to be seated at the basement if you want to check out the story of the invention of the milk tea through visual displays and decorations. They also have few souvenir stamps that you can show as proof of your visit.
Day 8, March 21, 2024 (Thursday) – Kaohsiung Day Tour
Actually, we didn’t do much in Kaohsiung since we were not able to visit the places in our itinerary because first, we found out that the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas were closed for renovations. Second, we were supposed to visit the Senya Village as well; however, we found out belatedly that the bus going there is only available in the morning.
So we just went sightseeing, enjoyed the view and took some instagrammable photos at the Pier-2 Art Center and the Lotus Pond. We still managed to have a memorable day trip to Kaohsiung though. We will definitely visit the city again on our next Taiwan trip in the future and allot maybe two days in Kaohsiung to explore the city.
Day 9, March 22, 2024 (Friday) – Free Day
We assigned this day as a free day, but not literally since we went shopping to buy pasalubong and went back to Ximending to try the Xing Fu Tang milk tea again. We also visited the Red House, which is just a few blocks away from Ximending, and bought some souvenirs and took some photos.
Then, we went to the Modern Toilet Restaurant for lunch. What’s interesting about this place is their unique toilet-themed design for tables and seats. You can also see the theme in their food, desserts and even drinks.
Afterwards, we wandered around the Ximending streets to buy some Taiwan souvenirs and then decided to go to the Chia Te bakery to buy their famous pineapple cake. Based on our research, this store sells the best pineapple pastry in Taiwan. We queued for around 50 minutes, and decided to also try their nougat. We bought two flavors of their nougat – peanut and macadamia. And as a nut lover, I think I made the right choice. Hehe.
Their pineapple cake is the best that I have tried during my stay in Taiwan, and so are the peanut and macadamia nougat. Of course, we shared it with our loved ones back home in the Philippines.
Day 10, March 23, 2024 (Saturday) – Hualien: Taroko Gorge One-Day Tour from Taipei
We booked this tour through Klook because we wanted to spend our last day in Taiwan in a memorable way since the following day is already our flight back to the Philippines.
Taroko Gorge is named after the Taroko tribe who are indigenous Taiwanese people. It is known for its breathtaking mountains and fascinating marble canyons. It’s also a great place to hike while enjoying the spectacular view of the mountains and cliffs.
We truly enjoyed this tour. It is like we were given time to appreciate the beauty of nature, and it is also the best way to unplug your mind and recharge your soul – best escape to reality as they say. You can’t help but admire the natural wonder right in front of you. I will be posting more pictures here of Taroko Gorge for you to see and appreciate.
Day 11, March 24, 2024 (Sunday)
Flight back to the Philippines.
Final Thoughts
We really had the best time during our stay in Taiwan. We will definitely come back soon if our budget allows. Haha. A bit of trivia: Do you know that Taiwan has more than 13,000 convenience stores and ranks 2nd to South Korea in terms of the number of convenience stores per person? You can find 7-Eleven and Family Mart stores in almost all street corners of Taiwan. They even have themed 7-Eleven stores like Pokemon and Sanrio, which makes them much more interesting than any other country in the world.
Taiwan is like a mini Japan with a touch of South Korea. If you are like me who haven’t visited Japan or South Korea because of visa requirements, then you might want to consider visiting Taiwan on your next trip. Filipino travelers are still exempted from visa requirements up to July 31, 2024.
