Taiwan Travel Checklist: 13 Essential Things to Prepare Before Your Trip
Now that Taiwan extends its visa-free trial to Filipinos until July 2026, it’s time to plan that dream Taiwan trip. And we made this Taiwan travel checklist so you know what to prepare.
We’ve been to Taiwan three times already, and we can’t wait to be back to see the rest of its beauty. While we visited many Taiwan tourist spots, there are still so many places we have yet to explore, like the North Coast, East Coast, Alishan, and Meteor Garden filming locations.
Whether it’s your first (or nth) time visiting Taiwan, here’s our checklist to help you organize your trip.
Things to prepare before your Taiwan trip
Travel documents
1. Passport
It’s a no-brainer. Make sure that your Philippine passport has at least six (6) months validity before your scheduled departure.
2. Arrival/Departure Forms
Avoid the hassle of having to fill out arrival or departure cards on paper and use these digital forms instead:
Taiwan: Online Arrival Card (72 hours or 3 days before arrival)
Philippines: eTravel (72 hours or 3 days before departure or arrival)
Note: These online forms are FREE so beware of scammers or sketchy sites that trick you into paying some fees.
3. Flights
Airlines that fly between the Philippines and Taiwan include EVA Air, Starlux Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Royal Air Philippines, and China Airlines. For flight comparison, check out Kiwi.com and Trip.com.
BOOK TAIWAN FLIGHTS
4. Accommodation
Choose hotels that offer free cancellation for a certain period in case there are unforeseen changes to your trip. We recommend booking hotels on Agoda and Booking.com.
See our curated list of Taiwan accommodations:
- Best Taipei hotels (if you want to stay near MRT stations and attractions)
- Best Ximending hotels (if you want to stay near a shopping district)
- Cheap Taipei stays (if you’re on a budget)
- Hotels near Taoyuan Airport (if you need to catch a flight)
- Best Kaohsiung hotels (if you are exploring Southern Taiwan)
BOOK TAIWAN HOTELS
5. Itinerary & tours
Plotting your Taiwan itinerary could be overwhelming, especially for first-timers. You may refer to our 4-day Taiwan itinerary, where we mostly explored Taipei on our first visit. And, here’s our list of top Taiwan tourist spots we recommend you visit.
You may also add these popular Taiwan tours to your itinerary:
- Yehliu, Jiufen & Shifen Day Tour
- Alishan Day Tour
- Meteor Garden Sightseeing Tour
- Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm Tour
6. Immigration
After preparing all the documents above, secure them in one travel bag or pouch so you can easily whip them out when needed at the immigration counter on the day of your flight.
Passing through immigration is probably the most dreaded part of every overseas trip, especially to visa-free destinations like Taiwan. We know, we’ve been there. Just keep calm and only answer what’s being asked. Read our recent IO experience and tips to avoid being offloaded so you know what to do.
Travel essentials
7. Internet connection
For navigation and communication, buy your SIM card, eSIM, or pocket WiFi before your Taiwan trip. Read Taiwan SIM card, eSIM, and pocket WiFi guide so you can decide which one suits you.
Tip: Get Yesim eSIM and use our exclusive promo code: CHILL3 to get a €3 (₱199) discount on your first subscription.
BUY TAIWAN eSIM
8. Transportation
Taiwan has an efficient transport system, from trains to buses. Secure these transportation essentials for your peace of mind:
Taiwan EasyCard – This smartcard lets you pay for public transportation and shopping in Taiwan. Read our Taiwan EasyCard guide to know more.
BUY EASYCARD
Taiwan High Speed Rail Pass – Get the THSR Pass if you plan to travel across different cities in Taiwan as it offers unlimited rides on the bullet train. Read our Taiwan High Speed Rail guide for more information.
BUY THSR PASS
Bus 1819 – This bus is a 24/7 bus service that takes you from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei even during the wee hours. So, if your arrival time is at 12am onwards, you can still ride this bus to reach your accommodation in Taipei. You can buy your Bus 1819 tickets ahead on Klook or KKday. Read our Taoyuan Airport transport guide for more transfer options.
BUY BUS TICKETS
9. Tourist card
If you are mainly exploring Taipei, consider getting a Taipei Fun Pass, a multi-functional card that lets you enjoy unlimited rides on Taipei’s public transportation including trains and buses, as well as admission to top attractions such as Taipei 101, Taipei Zoo, Maokong Gondola, and many more. Read our Taipei Fun Pass guide to learn more.
BUY TAIPEI FUN PASS
10. Apps
Download these apps for your Taiwan exploration:
Navigation:
- Google Maps (Google Play, App Store)
Transportation:
- Taiwan Railway (Google Play)
- Go! Taipei Metro (Google Play, App Store)
- YouBike (Google Play, App Store)
Weather:
Additional things to prepare
11. Travel insurance
This is not mandatory, but for your peace of mind, we recommend that you get travel insurance like Klook Protect in case of medical emergencies and unforeseen events.
12. Taiwan the Lucky Land
Participate in the Taiwan the Lucky Land draw until Sep 2025 to win travel prizes including hotel vouchers and e-tickets. Don’t miss your chance and register 1 to 7 days before your trip.
13. Outfit for the season
Taiwan has four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Pack your clothes accordingly:
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Weather: Cold, cloudy with showers (13°C to low 20°C)
What to wear: Winter outfit including thermals with down jacket or windbreaker; boots or shoes with thermal socks
Spring (Mar-May)
Weather: Moderately cold, rainy and damp (below 20°C to mid 20°C)
What to wear: Spring outfit like inner wear with sweatshirt, jacket, or light trench coat; ankle boots or comfy walking shoes
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Weather: Hot, humid with high chance of rain (mid 20°C to high 30°C)
What to wear: Comfy, casual outfit with parka and umbrella in case it rains; sneakers or sandals
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Weather: Sunny or cloudy with showers (mid 20°C to mid 30°C)
What to wear: Fall outfit including an inner shirt with light jacket; comfy footwear
That’s basically it! We hope our Taiwan travel checklist will help you have a smooth trip to this underrated East Asian destination.
Before you go, add these Taiwan pasalubong to your shopping list, too!
Did we miss any of your Taiwan travel essentials? Do let us know on our socials: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, or YouTube.