TAIPEI & TAICHUNG, TAIWAN
Taiwan Travel Guide for Filipinos: Visa-Free, Budget & DIY Itinerary
Great news for Filipino travelers: Taiwan's visa-free entry has officially been extended until July 31, 2027! You can enjoy up to 14 days exploring vibrant night markets, stunning coastal landscapes, and rich culture without the hassle of a visa application.
Whether you're visiting for street food or scenic views, preparation is key. Below is everything you need for a seamless trip, from passing Philippine immigration confidently to a realistic budget breakdown and our tested DIY itinerary.
"Why do I choose hostels when traveling? For me, it's all about connection. Hostels create a warm, welcoming environment where travelers from every corner of the world are genuinely open to sharing their stories, experiences, and travel advice. Sitting in a common lounge trading stories with fellow wanderers is what turns a simple trip into an authentic, unforgettable adventure."
Immigration "No-Offload" Checklist
Passport (6+ mos validity)
Confirmed Return Ticket
Hotel/Hostel Bookings
Proof of Travel Funds
Max 14-Day Stay
Company ID / COE
Detailed DIY Itinerary
Travel Insurance
💡 Pro Departure Tips for Filipinos:
- PH Travel Tax (₱1,620): Pay online via the TIEZA Official Portal prior to flight day to bypass long terminal cashier lines.
- eGov PH Portal: All departing Filipinos must complete the online registration on the eTravel PH System within 72 hours before flight time.
- Proof of Ties: Carry an approved Leave of Absence (LOA) or COE with salary. Freelancers and business owners should bring recent BIR 1701/2316 or DTI/SEC registrations.
10 Must-Try Taiwanese Foods & Night Market Eats
No trip to Taiwan is complete without diving headfirst into its world-famous food scene. From Michelin-recommended street stalls to cozy night market bites, here are the top 10 iconic dishes you must try, complete with estimated prices in New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) and Philippine Pesos (PHP):
| Dish (Mandarin Name) | Type | Cost (NTD / PHP) | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉麵) | Main / Soup | NT$ 180 – 250 (~₱320–₱450) | Yongkang Beef Noodle / Fuhong Beef Noodles |
| 2. Braised Pork Rice (滷肉飯) | Main Staple | NT$ 35 – 60 (~₱60–₱110) | Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan / Local Eateries |
| 3. Soup Dumplings / Xiaolongbao (小籠包) | Steamed Dim Sum | NT$ 220 – 280 (~₱390–₱500) | Din Tai Fung / Hangzhou Xiaolongbao |
| 4. Flaky Scallion Pancake (蔥抓餅) | Street Snack | NT$ 35 – 55 (~₱60–₱100) | Tianjing Chong Zhua Bing (Yongkang St.) |
| 5. XL Crispy Chicken Cutlet (大雞排) | Night Market | NT$ 90 – 110 (~₱160–₱200) | Hot Star Ximending / Shilin Market |
| 6. Clay-Oven Black Pepper Bun (胡椒餅) | Baked Bun | NT$ 60 (~₱105) | Fuzhou Ancestral Bun (Raohe Market) |
| 7. Ay-Chung Oyster Vermicelli (阿宗麵線) | Noodle Soup | NT$ 60 – 75 (~₱105–₱135) | Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodles (Ximending) |
| 8. Deep-Fried Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐) | Crispy Snack | NT$ 50 – 70 (~₱90–₱125) | Raohe, Tonghua, or Shilin Night Markets |
| 9. Original Boba Milk Tea (珍珠奶茶) | Drink / Dessert | NT$ 50 – 80 (~₱90–₱140) | Chun Shui Tang / 50 Lan / Xing Fu Tang |
| 10. Jiufen Handmade Taro Balls (芋圓) | Sweet Dessert | NT$ 55 (~₱100) | Ah Gan Taro Balls (Jiufen Old Street) |
🍡 Foodie Pro-Tip: Most night market stalls in Taiwan are strictly cash-only! Keep loose NT$ 50 coins and NT$ 100 bills handy in your pouch so you can order quickly without slowing down the line.
Estimated Trip Budget & Expense Breakdown
| Category | Cost (NTD) | Cost (PHP) | Money-Saving Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roundtrip Flights | NT$ 3,500 – 6,000 | ₱6,000 – ₱10,000 | Book Cebu Pacific or AirAsia seat sales |
| PH Travel Tax | — | ₱1,620 | Pay via TIEZA online beforehand |
| Hostel / Hotel (5 Nights) | NT$ 3,500 – 6,000 | ₱6,000 – ₱10,000 | Stay in Ximending dorms or budget hotels |
| EasyCard (Transpo & 7-11) | NT$ 1,200 | ₱2,100 | Use for MRT, buses, and YouBike |
| THSR Taichung Roundtrip | NT$ 1,400 | ₱2,400 | Book discounted THSR tickets via Klook |
| Food & Night Markets | NT$ 2,500 – 3,500 | ₱4,300 – ₱6,000 | ~NT$ 500/day for street food & boba |
| eSIM / Data Pass | NT$ 300 – 450 | ₱500 – ₱800 | Get unlimited 5-day eSIM QR pass |
| Total Estimated Budget | NT$ 12,400 – 18,550 | ₱21,000 – ₱31,500 | Excludes personal shopping & pasalubong |
💳 Cashless Withdrawal Hack: Avoid exchanging PHP to USD/NTD at Manila airport money changers. Instead, use a debit/travel card (GoTyme, GCash Card, or Maya Card) to withdraw NTD directly from Bank of Taiwan or Mega Bank ATMs at Taoyuan Airport. Choose "Without Conversion / Defer Conversion" so your bank gives you spot exchange rates!
Detailed 6D5N Travel Itinerary Overview
| Travel Itinerary Overview |
|---|
| Day 0: Arrival & Orientation |
| Arrival at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) |
| Register & claim winnings at Taiwan the Lucky Land Lottery counter |
| ATM Cash Withdrawal — Bank of Taiwan (Defer DCC conversion for best rates) |
| Pick up pre-ordered EasyCard and tourist SIM / eSIM |
| Check-in: WOW Hostel Ximen |
| Visit National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall |
| Taipei 101 Observatory & Simple Kaffa 88th floor cafe |
| Explore Ximending Night Market |
| Day 1: Taichung Day Trip |
| Taichung DIY excursion via High Speed Rail (THSR) |
| Miyahara Ice Cream & J&G Fried Chicken |
| National Taiwan Museum of Comics |
| Painted Animation Lane & Taichung Literature Museum |
| Liuchuan Riverside Walk & National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts |
| Day 2: Northeast Coast Excursion |
| Shifen Old Street & Sky Lantern release |
| Shifen Waterfall Park |
| Jiufen Old Street afternoon tea & sunset views |
| Day 3: Historic Taipei & Night Markets |
| The Red House & Guangzhou Street Night Market |
| Longshan Temple |
| Nanjichang Night Market food crawl |
| Day 4: Thermal Springs & Relaxation |
| Xinbeitou Hot Spring Area day trip |
| Day 5: Departure |
| Capybara Knight Cafe & airport transfer via Taoyuan Airport MRT Express |
Taipei Metro (MRT) Route Map & Transit Guide
Navigating Taipei is incredibly smooth thanks to the clean, punctual, and user-friendly Taipei Metro (MRT). Simply tap your EasyCard at the entry gates! Click the route map below to inspect high-resolution station connections or download the full system diagram for offline travel.
R
Tamsui-Xinyi Line
Taipei 101, Shilin, Beitou
Taipei 101, Shilin, Beitou
BL
Bannan Line
Ximen, Main Station, City Hall
Ximen, Main Station, City Hall
G
Songshan-Xindian
Longshan Temple, Gongguan
Longshan Temple, Gongguan
O
Zhonghe-Xinlu Line
Dongmen, Daqiaotou
Dongmen, Daqiaotou
BR
Wenhu Line
Songshan Airport, Taipei Zoo
Songshan Airport, Taipei Zoo
A
Airport MRT Express
TPE Airport ↔ Taipei Main
TPE Airport ↔ Taipei Main
🚉 Essential MRT Transfer Hubs for Tourists:
- Taipei Main Station (R / BL / TRA / THSR): The central hub connecting the Red Line, Blue Line, Taiwan High Speed Rail, TRA trains, and Airport Express MRT.
- Ximen Station (BL / G): Perfect exchange point between the Blue Line and Green Line right in Ximending.
- Daan Station (R / BR): Convenient interchange when heading to Songshan Airport or Taipei Zoo.
Taiwan Travel Essentials & Frequently Asked Questions
Visa-Free Privilege: Philippine passport holders enjoy visa-free entry to Taiwan for stays up to 14 days (extended through July 31, 2027).
Document Checklist:
- Valid Passport: Must have at least 6 months validity remaining from your return date.
- Onward / Return Ticket: Confirmed booking back to the Philippines or your next destination.
- Proof of Accommodation: Hotel or hostel booking confirmations.
- Online Arrival Card: Complete the official NIA Taiwan Online Arrival Card 1 to 3 days prior to your departure to skip manual paper forms at border control.
Flight Duration: Direct non-stop flights take approximately 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Airlines Operating Routes:
- Budget Carriers: Cebu Pacific Air, Philippines AirAsia
- Full-Service Carriers: Philippine Airlines, EVA Air, China Airlines, Starlux Airlines
Arrival Airports: Most flights dock at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), which is 35 minutes from central Taipei via the Airport MRT Express.
- eSIM (Recommended): Purchase digital eSIMs via Klook or Airalo for instant QR activation, keeping your main PH SIM active for banking OTPs.
- Physical SIM Card: Pick up physical tourist SIMs at TPE Airport arrival halls (Chunghwa Telecom or Taiwan Mobile).
- Portable Pocket Wi-Fi: Excellent for families sharing a single data connection.
- Transit Cards: Buy an EasyCard or iPASS at TPE airport or convenience stores (7-Eleven / FamilyMart). Use it on the MRT, city buses, YouBikes, and retail purchases.
- High-Speed Rail (THSR): For travel between Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, book discount tickets on the THSR Official Portal.
- Rideshare & Taxis: Uber operates seamlessly across major Taiwanese cities.
Why I Choose Hostels: Beyond saving money on accommodation, I choose hostels because of the human connection. Hostels bring together diverse, open-minded travelers who are eager to share their personal stories, travel experiences, and lessons learned on the road. It turns any solo or group trip into a far more meaningful adventure.
Why Ximending is the Ideal Base:
- Unbeatable Transit Hub: Ximen Station sits on both the Bannan (Blue) and Songshan-Xindian (Green) MRT lines, making city travel effortless.
- Street Food at Your Doorstep: Step outside your hostel straight into night market food stalls, bubble tea shops, and shopping streets.
- Top Budget Hostels: High-rated options like WOW Hostel Ximen and Meander Taipei offer clean dorms, private rooms, and vibrant social lounges.
- Taiwan Lucky Land Draw: Register in advance for the Taiwan Tourism Lucky Land NT$5,000 Voucher Campaign for a chance to win travel funds.
- MRT Strict Rules: Drinking water, eating food, or chewing gum past the yellow lines in MRT stations leads to strictly enforced fines!
- Cash is King at Markets: While stores accept cards and EasyCards, small street stalls and night markets are strictly cash-only (NTD).
