Taiwan Activities by Budget, NT$0 to NT$1,800
Start with what costs nothing
Some of the most memorable hours in Taiwan have no ticket. Longshan Temple, founded in 1738, is free to enter, as are the Dalongdong Bao’an Temple and the Xiahai City God Temple, where visitors ask the matchmaker deity for luck in love. Night markets cost nothing to walk through, and the stone steps up Elephant Mountain give a free skyline view at sunset. The steaming foot baths at Fuxing Park in Beitou are free too.
NT$20 to NT$150: the everyday layer
Money goes far here. An MRT ride is NT$20 to NT$65 by distance, and YouBike rental runs NT$5 to NT$10 per 30 minutes with an EasyCard. Breakfast of a crispy cruller wrapped in flatbread with hot soy milk is NT$35 to NT$75. At the night market, braised pork rice is NT$35 to NT$60 and a bubble tea NT$60 to NT$85. The Millennium public hot spring in Beitou costs NT$40 to NT$60, and Taipei Zoo is NT$100 for adults and NT$50 for students. A river ferry from Tamsui Old Street is NT$34 to NT$40.
NT$180 to NT$650: the headline tickets
The National Palace Museum is NT$350 for adults and about NT$150 for concessions. Taipei 101’s standard observatory ticket is NT$600 and higher tiers cost more. At Shifen, a hand-painted paper lantern is NT$200 for a single colour and NT$250 to NT$350 for several. A Din Tai Fung meal runs NT$450 to NT$750 a head. You can look at Taipei 101 ticket options on GetYourGuide if you want a fixed entry slot.
NT$800 and up: the planned day
A guided minibus day to Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu is NT$1,000 to NT$1,600 with transport and an English guide. A gongfu tea session with high-mountain oolong is NT$800 to NT$1,800. Tribal food and foraging days in Hualien or Taitung are NT$900 to NT$1,800, and snorkelling or diving boat trips in Kenting are NT$1,800 to NT$3,500. The Alishan Forest Railway full fare from Chiayi is NT$600, and booking is on the railway site . To compare guided days, browse Taiwan tours on Viator .
Rules that save money
Eating or drinking inside the MRT fare gates, water included, draws a fine of NT$1,500 to NT$7,500. The free Taiwan Arrival Card must be filed online at the TWAC portal up to 7 days before you land. Taiwan High Speed Rail covers only the west coast, with Taipei to Zuoying at NT$1,490, so budget TRA tickets for Hualien and Taitung. The currency is the New Taiwan Dollar, about NT$32 to US$1.
Weather and timing
Typhoon season runs July to October. Mountain parks and rail lines can shut for a day or two, so keep one flexible afternoon. The Central Weather Administration publishes warnings.
Festivals worth timing
Taiwan’s calendar follows the lunar year. The Pingxi lantern release and the Yanshui beehive fireworks in Tainan fall around the Lantern Festival in February or March, and the Dajia Mazu pilgrimage sets out in spring, walking about 340 km over nine days. The Taiwan International Balloon Festival runs in July or August on the Luye Highlands in Taitung. The Taiwan Tourism Administration lists current dates, and rooms tighten on festival weekends.
For a plan that mixes the free and paid layers, see the 3-day plan . Tip: spend the saved money on one splurge, such as the tea session, rather than spreading it across many small extras.