9 Mistakes Every First-Timer Makes in Taiwan (And How to Avoid Them)

Taiwan is genuinely one of the best countries in Asia to travel to — affordable, safe, easy to navigate, and packed with food, culture, and experiences that reward the curious traveler. But even the best destinations can go sideways when you walk in unprepared.

Whether this is your first time going or you just haven't been in a while, here are 10 mistakes that most first-timers make in Taiwan — and exactly how to avoid all of them. Some of these tips apply beyond Taiwan too, so there's something here for every traveler.

❌ Mistake #1: Not Researching the Weather in Advance

One of the most common patterns in the Taiwan DIY travel community is people booking flights first, then asking what the weather is like. It should be the other way around.

Taiwan's weather varies significantly by month, and it matters a lot for how you pack and what you plan to do. June and July, for example, are peak flight sale months — but they're also peak summer: intensely hot, extremely humid, and among the rainiest months of the year. If you're booking for those months because of a seat sale, go in knowing what you're signing up for.

Taiwan's weather is also notoriously moody. It can be warm in the morning, cold by afternoon, and raining by evening — all in the same day. So the approach isn't just to check the season; it's to check the forecast.

Here is a summary cheatsheet that you can use as reference:

💡 Pro Tip: Use a monthly weather cheat sheet to understand the general season, then check your weather app about a week before your flight for a more accurate forecast. Even a day before departure, do one final check so you can fine-tune your packing — especially if you're traveling with kids, seniors, or anyone with specific needs.

Knowing the weather also helps you plan your itinerary smarter. On hot summer days, for instance, you might want to schedule outdoor activities in the morning and shift to indoor spots in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the heat.

❌ Mistake #2: Always Booking Red Eye Flights

Red eye flights are usually the cheapest option, which is exactly why so many travelers default to them. But the savings come with real trade-offs that are worth thinking through before you book.

The biggest issue is transport. If you land at Taoyuan Airport, say, at 2:00 a.m., the Airport MRT and regular MRT are both closed — they don't open until around 5:30/6:00 a.m. Your options at that hour are limited to Bus 1819 (which runs to Taipei Main Station only) or a private airport transfer booked in advance through platforms like Klook. Both workable, but both add friction and potentially extra cost.

The hotel situation is equally complicated. Standard check-in time is typically 3:00–4:00 p.m. If you arrive at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m., you either wait it out or book an extra night just to have a room to sleep in immediately — which often cancels out whatever you saved on the flight.

💡 Pro Tip: If a red eye is unavoidable, consider booking your hotel starting the night before your arrival date. That way, when you show up at 3 a.m., you're doing a late check-in on the previous night's booking — not an early check-in on the next day's. Use promo code HEYIANCHOTEL on Agoda for up to 10% off hotel bookings (usable up to 5x).

❌ Mistake #3: Arriving with Incomplete Requirements

This one still catches a surprising number of travelers — even at the immigration line. There are two key digital requirements for Filipinos traveling to Taiwan, and both need to be done before you queue:

• eTravel (Philippines) — This is required by Philippine immigration for departing and returning passengers. You fill it out when leaving and when coming back to the Philippines. I suggest using the eGov app where you can find eTravel.
• Taiwan Online Arrival Card — This is for Taiwan immigration and needs to be submitted before you enter Taiwan. It can be completed up to 3 days before your arrival date. So if you land on February 15, you can submit it on February 13, 14, or 15 — but not earlier. 🚨 Note that submitting TWAC is FREE!

Skipping the Taiwan arrival card doesn't mean you won't be caught — it's in the system. If you haven't submitted it, you'll be pulled aside to fill it out on the spot, wasting time in what's already a long immigration queue.

💡 Pro Tip: Do both forms within the 3-day window before your flight. Airport WiFi exists if you forget, but it's a stressful way to start a trip. Get it done the night before and arrive at immigration ready to walk straight through.

❌ Mistake #4: Using Money Changers Instead of ATMs

The old habit of bringing pesos or dollars to exchange at the airport is one of the most expensive mistakes you can still make. Currency exchange counters — whether in Manila or Taipei — almost always offer rates worse than what you'd get from a direct ATM withdrawal.

The better approach: bring your debit card and withdraw New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) directly from an ATM upon arrival. Visa and Mastercard-linked debit cards work at most Taiwanese ATMs, and so do Philippine e-wallets like GCash, Maya, GoTyme, and Maribank. The rate you get from an ATM withdrawal is typically very close to the published exchange rate you see on Google – unless your card issuer charges extra fees like forex markup and foreign withdrawal fees.

Here is a cheatsheet for the best digital banks/e-wallets to use in Taiwan:

✅ If you still do not have a MariBank account, you can signup using my referral link here and get Php150 as welcome reward!

❌ Mistake #5: Not Using Navigation Apps

Taiwan's transport system is excellent, but it's also layered — MRT lines, buses, intercity trains, walking routes. Trying to navigate it without a map app is how people get lost and frustrated.

Google Maps works exceptionally well in Taiwan. It handles MRT routes, bus numbers, walking directions, and even taxi estimates. If you get turned around anywhere, you can just pin your current location and type in your destination — it'll figure out the best route from wherever you are.

For internet access while navigating, you have three main options:

• Pocket WiFi — Shareable across up to 5 devices, relatively affordable. Downside: you need to claim and return it at the airport, and if the person holding the device walks too far from your group, everyone loses signal.
• Physical SIM Card — Personal to your device, can be used as a hotspot. Works only on unlocked phones (not tied to a postpaid contract with Smart, Globe, etc.).
• eSIM — The most convenient option. No physical pickup needed — purchase online via Klook, activate before your flight, and you're connected the moment you land. Also works well for red eye arrivals when airport kiosks may be closed. Same phone lock caveat applies as with physical SIMs.

Data roaming through your local carrier (Globe, Smart, GOMO) is also always an option if you'd rather keep it simple and just enroll a roaming package.

💡 Pro Tip: Use promo code HEYIANCKLOOK on Klook for up to 5% off eSIMs, SIM cards, pocket WiFi, and activities (new users only).

❌ Mistake #6: Not Using a Transportation Card

Buying individual tokens or single-journey tickets every time you ride the MRT can be slow and inconvenient. The smarter move is getting a transport card from the start.

The EasyCard is the standard — a reloadable card that works on the MRT, buses, and even at 7-Eleven and some restaurants. You can reload it at any MRT station or convenience store, and it saves you the queue at ticket machines every single time.

If you're planning to hit multiple attractions in a day, check if the Taipei Fun Pass makes more sense for you. It offers unlimited MRT and city bus rides, plus included entrance to major attractions — including the Taipei 101 Observatory. Available in 1, 2, or 3-day options and bookable through Klook using promo code HEYIANCKLOOK.

💡 Pro Tip: Cross-check your planned itinerary against the Taipei Fun Pass inclusions before you book. If you're visiting Taipei 101 and several other covered attractions in a short window, the pass can pay for itself quickly.

❌ Mistake #7: Over-Relying on Tours for Everything

Taiwan is one of the easiest countries in Asia to navigate independently. The transport system is logical, well-signposted, and genuinely foreigner-friendly. Booking guided tours for your entire trip when you don't need to adds unnecessary cost and removes a lot of the spontaneity that makes travel rewarding.

That said, day tours do make sense for specific scenarios — particularly when destinations are far from the city center and involve complex transfers. Good examples include the Taipei North Coast (Yehliu Geopark, Shifen, Jiufen), which involves multiple stops spread across a large area, and Alishan, which requires an HSR ride plus a 2.5-hour mountain bus.

For these kinds of days, a tour gives you a pickup point (often Taipei Main Station), handles all the transport between stops, and drops you back where you started — so all you're paying extra is entrance fees, activities, and food.

💡 Pro Tip: DIY the city days, and consider a day tour only for routes that involve complex transport or multiple far-flung stops. Recommended tours — North Coast, Taichung, and Alishan — are available on Klook with promo code HEYIANCKLOOK.

❌ Mistake #8: Eating Only at Fast Food Chains

Here's one that might surprise you: eating at McDonald's or KFC in Taiwan is often more expensive than eating at a local restaurant. A bowl of braised pork rice at a neighborhood eatery can cost as little as the equivalent of ₱100. The same meal at a foreign fast food chain could run ₱200–₱300 or more.

Taiwan has a genuinely exceptional food culture — from family-run lunch spots to street food stalls to night markets — and most of it is cheap, good, and deeply local. Missing that in favor of familiar chains is one of the quieter ways to shortchange your trip.

The night markets in particular deserve their own strategy. Don't arrive planning to eat one big meal. Instead, graze — sausages here, pepper buns there, dumplings at the next stall. That's how you actually experience a night market.

💡 Pro Tip: Taiwan's 7-Eleven is genuinely good — similar to Japan's convenience stores. It's a solid option for quick meals and snacks when you're between destinations and don't have time to sit down. Night markets typically open at around 5:00 p.m.

❌ Mistake #9: Not Exploring Beyond the Usual Tourist Spots

Taiwan's popular attractions are popular for good reason — but stopping there means missing some of the country's most memorable experiences. A few worth going out of your way for:

• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall — Most visitors see the grand outer plaza and call it a day. But beneath the main hall there's a free museum you can enter with a complimentary ticket. There's also an audio guide available, and surrounding areas with gardens and even a playground. Worth exploring properly instead of just taking a photo from outside.
• Songshan Cultural and Creative Park — A converted industrial complex now home to design studios, shops, exhibitions, and food. Free entry. Great for a few hours of relaxed wandering.
• Huashan 1914 Creative Park — Similar vibe: a repurposed historic site with rotating exhibitions, indie boutiques, and food options. Also free entry.

💡 Pro Tip: Build at least one "off the beaten path" stop into each day. Taiwan rewards the traveler who looks slightly beyond the guidebook highlights.

Bonus Mistake: Not Planning Your Trip Properly

Avoiding all 10 mistakes above is still hard to do if your overall trip isn't planned well. Itinerary building and budgeting take real effort — especially when you're trying to account for transport, accommodation, food, and activities across multiple days.

My All-in-One Travel Budget and Itinerary Planner is available for free download — it covers day-by-day planning, budget tracking, and country-specific cheatsheets.

🏷️ Travel Discount Codes

Planning to book hotels or activities for your Taiwan trip? Use these exclusive discount codes before you check out — tap the buttons below to open the app directly and save the code to your account automatically.

⚠️ Codes are limited use only. Tap the buttons above to open the app and save your code before booking.

Final Thoughts

None of these mistakes are hard to avoid once you know about them. And now you do. Taiwan is genuinely one of the most rewarding countries to travel through — the food alone is worth the trip — and going in prepared means you get to spend your time actually enjoying it instead of troubleshooting things that could have been sorted before you left.

If this helped, share it with someone who's got a Taiwan trip coming up. And if you want more guides like this covering Hong Kong, Vietnam, and beyond, join our Facebook communities for free cheatsheets and travel templates.

If you want to watch the full video on YouTube I will also embed it here:

Hope this helps! More travels soon!