Traveling Cheaply in Taiwan: Tips and Insights

You can definitely travel cheaply in Taiwan, and with some planning, it can be immensely enjoyable. Taiwan is not as budget-friendly as Vietnam, Malaysia, or Indonesia; however, it is more affordable than Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Accommodation costs are relatively high; however, this is more than compensated for by abundant cheap and delicious food, inexpensive public transport, free entry to stellar attractions, exceptional hiking for little-to-no cost, and free festivals all year round. Here are all the tips and tricks you need to visit Taiwan on a budget.

Take the Metro or Bus from the Airport

Taoyuan International Airport is Taiwan’s gateway to the world; the other major international airport is in Kaohsiung. Buses, departing every 15 minutes to an hour, offer the cheapest rides (NT$90 to NT$145) to downtown Taipei. Depending on the drop-off point, the ride can take anywhere from 50 to 80 minutes.

For just a little bit more (NT$160), the Airport MRT whizzes you to the city center in under 40 minutes, with trains arriving like clockwork every 10 minutes.

From Kaohsiung International Airport, a 15-minute metro ride to the metropolitan area is NT$35. Buses are more expensive and slightly slower.

Get the EasyCard

The convenient EasyCard is a contactless smartcard used mostly to pay for rides on public transport and store purchases. It costs NT$100 plus a top-up amount of your choice. Using the card doesn’t save you money per journey, but small discounts of under NT$10 apply when you transfer between metro and bus or between metro and Youbike, the public bike-sharing service.

Consider Downloading Transport Apps

Download transport apps to compare routes and prices ahead of time. Some handy ones are the government’s bilingual train, high-speed rail, and metro apps. The bus apps are useful too, although Google Maps works just as well in Taiwan.

Fill Your Days with Free Attractions

You’d struggle to run out of free attractions no matter how long you stay. All of Taiwan’s 15,000 temples, from nature worship to UNESCO-award-winning, are free to visit.

While most major museums charge an entrance fee, the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Taiwan Literature, and Human Rights Museum are among the worthy exceptions. Art centers and art villages are free, as are nature reserves and salt fields. A five-minute NT$30 ferry ride from Kaohsiung takes you to Cijin Island, where history, a beautiful beach, and a killer sunset await.

Strategize Your Use of Public Transport

Depending on the city, any combination of bus, metro, public bike, and walking will likely be your cheapest and most efficient way to get around. For example, you can combine walking with riding a public bike to explore the metropolitan area of Tainan.

Buses are cheaper and connect you to more destinations than the MRT, and in small cities without a metro, they are a budget traveler’s best friend. In Taipei and Kaohsiung, bus fares are calculated using a fare zone system that charges NT$15 and NT$12 per zone, respectively.

Slightly costlier than buses at NT$20 to NT$65 per journey, the metro has the added benefit of giving respite from the heat and traffic jams. Public shared bikes called Youbike or T-bike are wonderful for shorter distances and sightseeing. Rates vary, but the average is NT$10 an hour.

Have Your Kids Travel on Your Lap on the Trains

Children under six (or 115cm/3ft 9in) can ride the MRT for free. The same applies to high-speed rail and intercity trains, provided you hold them on your lap. If your child needs a seat, buy a children’s ticket – half-price for kids between six and 12 years (or 115cm to 150 cm/3ft 9in to 4ft 9in).

Go Hiking, Biking, and Hot-Springing

Taiwan is home to hundreds of hiking trails, from paths in urban parks to roads through ancient forests. The vast majority are free and accessible by public transport, but keep in mind that entry to certain high-mountain areas requires a permit.

If you intend to explore Taroko National Park, consider purchasing a day pass (NT$250) to bus-hop among trails and natural wonders. Cycling is also popular, and the island is crisscrossed by cycling lanes, routes, and bikeways, all free as the breeze.

Taiwan is one of Asia’s top hot-spring destinations. You can combine hiking with a soak in a scenic wild spring. Yangmingshan has free public pools that have soothed many weary hikers’ soles. In the Beitou hot-spring resort area, Beitou Public Hot Spring offers the cheapest dips (NT$40).

Take the Slow Train if You Have Time

Taiwan’s two rail systems – HSR (high-speed rail) and TRA (Taiwan Railway Administration) – are both safe, clean, and punctual. TRA has three types of trains with different speeds, fares, and frequencies. The fastest are less frequent than the other two and have costlier tickets that sell out quickly.

As a rule of thumb, HSR is about twice as fast and expensive as TRA. For example, an HSR journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung costs NT$1490 and takes two hours, whereas the same on the second-fastest type of TRA train would cost NT$845 and take five hours.

Get Your Caffeine Fix from Convenience Stores or Local Chains

The cheapest coffee can be had at convenience stores. Two chains, FamilyMart and 711, sell freshly brewed specialty coffees. The local café chains Cama Café and Louisa Coffee also make a pretty good cup of joe for way less than Starbucks.

Eat at the Markets

Taiwan is teeming with cheap eats that deliver, so you don’t need to sacrifice variety for economy. Taipei’s bento restaurants and noodle shops can feed you well for only NT$80; even less in Kaohsiung and Tainan.

For a unique experience, visit a night market. Every city has at least a couple. The sheer array of affordable food at these street bazaars means you can munch away without crunching numbers.

Stalls inside produce markets, open for breakfast and lunch, are great for a quick meal. One of the best is Tainan’s Yongle Market, a grazer’s paradise.

Make Use of Water Dispensers

Bring your water bottle. Water dispensers are almost as ubiquitous as convenience stores. You’ll find them in all metro and train stations, museums, temples, libraries, information centers, hostels, and hotels. If you need hot water for tea or coffee, all lodgings provide a kettle.

Daily Costs

• Hostel dorm: NT$500–800

• Basic room for two: NT$1200–2200

• Self-catering apartment: NT$1100-4800

• MRT ticket: NT$40

• Coffee: NT$60

• Noodles and side dish: NT$80–180

• Dinner for two: NT$500-1000

• Beer/pint at the bar: NT$200

This article was first published Nov 26, 2022, and updated Oct 18, 2023.