Taiwan Solo Travel: Is it Really That Hard? (Spoiler: It's Amazing!)
Dreaming of immersing yourself in authentic culture and exploring on your own terms? Forget those questions about difficulty! Dive in, do a little prep, and get ready for an incredible solo adventure in Taiwan. You'll find your answer soon enough!
After countless postponements, I finally booked my flight and embarked on a 6-day, 5-night solo journey through Taiwan. This trip was packed with unforgettable experiences, from stunning natural landscapes to the warmth of the Taiwanese people. Having traveled solo internationally once before (Japan!), I thought I was prepared, but of course, there were some unexpected twists. Let me share my solo trip experience to Taiwan, a real taste of adventure, and some helpful tips I picked up along the way for anyone brave enough to explore this beautiful island.
Essential Preparations: Pack Smart, Travel Lighter
- Essentials: Pack light! Think clothes, cash (TWD), a universal adapter, power bank, and basic meds (cold medicine, pain relievers, Vitamin C).
- Visa: I snagged a free visa thanks to my previous Japanese visa. With the news of Taiwan potentially ending the visa-free policy for Japanese/Korean visa holders, I rushed to apply for an E-Visa that same night! Passed at 11:45 PM! Even with the E-Visa, I waited for others to successfully enter before booking my flights.
- Flights: Round trip from Saigon (SGN) to Taipei (TPE) on VietJet Air cost about 3.7 million VND, including 20kg of checked baggage.
- Accommodation: As a solo traveler focused on exploring, I opted for a hostel. Bouti City Capsule Inn was super convenient, close to Taipei Main Station and bus stops. Booked through Agoda with discounts for about 550k VND/night.
Day-by-Day Adventures (and the Occasional Hiccup!)
Day 1: Saigon – Taipei
The first surprise: my flight was changed at the last minute from 1:00 AM to 1:00 PM! I had to revamp my plans and rebook my Taipei hotel instead of Keelung. Worried about E-Visa delays, I arrived at the airport 3 hours early. Turns out, check-in was lightning fast! Immigration was smooth too; the officer inspected my passport with a magnifying glass 😂, asked about my return date, and waved me through.
Even though the flight change cost me a day, I won 5000 TWD (about 3.8 million VND) in the lucky draw! I chose an EasyCard for easy transportation on MRT, buses, and TRA, plus purchases at participating stores. After checking in, I spent time just strolling through Ximending before heading to the hostel to rest up.
Day 2: Taipei – Keelung
Took the TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Keelung, then a bus to Yehliu Geopark. Had lunch at Renai Market, then explored Zhengbin Fishing Port and Heping Island Park for sunset before heading to Jiufen Old Street in the evening.
Important Tip: Getting from Heping Island to Jiufen by bus can be slow. Consider Uber or a taxi if you're with a group. I hopped on the right bus, but after a few stops, everyone was asked to get off and wait for the next bus with the same number! It took so long to get there that many shops in Jiufen were closed when I arrived around 6 PM. I explored for a bit, then took a bus back to Ruifang Station and a TRA train back to Taipei.
Day 3: Taipei
Visited the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (go early to avoid crowds!), watched the Changing of the Guard (hourly from 9 AM). Had lunch at Taipei Fish Market, then explored the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and Yuanshan Park Area of Taipei Expo Park.
In the afternoon, I hiked Elephant Mountain for views of Taipei 101 and had dinner at the Taipei 101 food court (lots of options, and they accept EasyCard!). I wanted to try Din Tai Fung, but the waitlist was insane!
Day 4: Qingtiangang – Beitou - Tamsui
Took bus S15 straight to the last stop, but the driver only went to Lengshuikeng and asked everyone to get off. I walked about 1.6km to Qingtiangang Grassland. This bus route was a bit chaotic – packed with older folks going hiking! The winding mountain roads made for a bumpy ride :D. Consider other options. After Qingtiangang, I took bus 108 back to Chungshan Building and bus 230 to Beitou. I missed the bus after waiting 30 min because I was too busy on my phone! Had to wait another 30 min for the next one.
I soaked in the hot springs at Spring City Resort (booked via Klook). The resort wasn't fancy, but the private hot spring room was clean and they offered a free shuttle to Beitou MRT Station, then went to Tamsui. I loved the lively riverside area with delicious and affordable food and sunset views. Ended the day at Shilin Night Market. It's not the best for food, mostly clothes and souvenirs.
Day 5: Taichung – Alishan
Took the earliest HSR train to Taichung at 7:30 AM, then a pre-booked shared car to Alishan (booked through "Đặt Xe tại Đài Loan," meaning "Book a Car in Taiwan"). We stopped at Fengqihu Old Street. Alishan was stunning, but I couldn't explore much because it gets dark early in winter. I rushed back to Taichung HSR Station and took a train to Taipei, and grabbing dinner at the Breeze food court in Taipei Station (EasyCard accepted).
Day 6: Taipei – Saigon
On my last day, I relaxed, checked out of the hostel, and left my luggage to explore Ximending, Huashan 1914 Creative Park, and 2J CAFÉ. I returned to the hostel at 3 PM, grabbed my luggage, and took the MRT to the airport. I was running late, so the rush through check-in and immigration was real. TSN airport in Saigon was chaotic. It took almost 2 hours to get through immigration!
Final Thoughts on my Taiwan Solo Trip
Despite only hitting about 90% of my initial plan, I pushed my boundaries and had an incredible experience. My personal takeaways: The food is delicious, prices are a bit higher than Saigon, Taiwan's natural beauty is enhanced by the government's focus on tourism, and the people are incredibly friendly. Even with the language barrier, I felt welcome and people were always willing to help.
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