TAIWAN · Taipei, Jiufen, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Alishan
Rehearse your Taiwan trip before you go
Taiwan feels quite different between Taipei in the north and old Tainan in the south, from the food to the air.
Dejavoy is a free game: plan a trip, then play it through day by day before you go, and catch closed days, missed bookings and tourist traps before they catch you.
Entry rules by passport
| Passport | What you need |
|---|---|
| Japan | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the immigration agency's site, from 3 days before |
| South Korea | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the immigration agency's site, from 3 days before |
| China (mainland) | Get a tourist visa for Taiwan Mainland Chinese passports need a Taiwan entry permit plus mainland exit papers; as of October 2026 independent tourism from the mainland is suspended |
| Taiwan | Your own country |
| Hong Kong SAR | Apply for Taiwan's online entry permit Free online permit from the immigration agency if you were born in Hong Kong or have visited Taiwan before; otherwise a regular entry permit |
| Singapore | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the immigration agency's site, from 3 days before |
| USA | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the official site, from 3 days before |
| Canada | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the immigration agency's site, from 3 days before |
| UK | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the official site, from 3 days before |
| An EU country | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the official site, from 3 days before |
| Australia | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the immigration agency's site, from 3 days before |
| India | Apply for a Taiwan eVisa On the Foreign Ministry's site; with a valid US, Japanese or similar visa you may use the free online Travel Authorization Certificate instead |
| Other | Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) Free on the official site, from 3 days before |
Checked Oct 2026. Rules change: check the embassy or official site before you travel.
Traps travellers fall into
In the game these hide among the recommendations. See if you can spot them.
- Shilin Night Market TaipeiFor food, go to Ningxia or Raohe, where locals eat; Shilin is more about shopping and games
- A big coach day tour to Jiufen and Shifen TaipeiAvoid the coach-tour hours in Jiufen: stay overnight, or go by public bus early or late
- Liuhe Night Market KaohsiungFor Kaohsiung night markets, try Ruifeng instead (closed Mon & Wed)
- Thirsty on the Metro TaipeiOn Taipei's Metro, eating and drinking (even water, gum or sweets) is banned past the gates; fines start at NT$1,500
- Jiufen at five o'clock JiufenJiufen at dusk is jammed: stay the night and go after seven, or watch from a teahouse window
Month by month
- JanuaryJanuary in Taipei is about 18°C, dropping below 10°C in a cold snap; the south stays sunny and mild.
- FebruaryFebruary in Taipei is about 19°C and damp. Lunar New Year runs 4–10 February: shops close and trains fill.
- MarchMarch in Taipei is about 22°C with spring drizzle; the south is sunny at about 28°C.
- AprilApril is a pleasant 26°C. The Tomb-Sweeping holiday (3–6 April) brings travel crowds.
- MayMay reaches 29°C, with the plum rains from mid-month. Mango season begins.
- JuneJune is a humid 32°C with plum rains and afternoon storms. Dragon Boat Festival on 9 June; peak mango season.
- JulyJuly is a scorching 34°C with daily afternoon storms; typhoon season.
- AugustAugust stays at 34°C and is peak typhoon season; boats and mountain trains sometimes stop.
- SeptemberSeptember is about 31°C, still with typhoons. Mid-Autumn Festival on 15 September means riverside barbecues.
- OctoberOctober is a comfortable 27°C; the north turns grey and drizzly late in the month.
- NovemberNovember–December: Taipei around 20°C with frequent drizzle; Tainan and Kaohsiung sunnier at about 25°C; Alishan near 5°C at night.
- DecemberDecember in Taipei is around 20°C with frequent drizzle; Tainan and Kaohsiung are sunnier at about 24°C.
Sample routes
- ClassicClassic: Taipei and JiufenTaipei's night markets and Palace Museum, plus a night among Jiufen's lanterns.Taipei → Jiufen
- DetourDetour: old Tainan and harbour KaohsiungSouth by bullet train, starting with breakfast in Tainan, the street-food capital.Taipei → Tainan → Kaohsiung
- Off the pathOff the path: Alishan's clouds, then southA night in the mountains for sunrise and tea, then down to Tainan's lanes.Taipei → Alishan → Tainan
Hidden gems
- Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain TaipeiTwenty minutes of steps from the Metro to the classic night view over Taipei 101.
- Tea in a teahouse on the steps JiufenAn old teahouse with views of the sea and hills; they show you how to brew.
- Shennong Street at night TainanA Qing-era canal lane of lanterns and tiny bars.
- Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum KaohsiungA vast Buddhist monastery with a 108 m Buddha, about an hour by bus.
- High-mountain tea farm tasting AlishanSteep tea terraces in the mist; a farming family brews oolong for you.
- Dihua Street's old merchant houses TaipeiA wholesale street since Qing times: mullet roe, herbs, tea, and restored shophouse cafés.
- Jiufen at night, after the coaches leave JiufenTour groups leave by about seven; only the lanterns remain.
- Hayashi Department Store TainanA department store from 1932 with a shrine on the roof.
13 more to find in the game.
Before you go
- Install a travel eSIMMaps and translation from the start
- Remember: no eating or drinking on Taipei's MetroNot even water or gum; there are fines