--- title: "Bicycle touring in Taiwan | Cycle Planet" description: "Cycling Taiwan: visa, border crossings, safety, transport, places to sleep and points of interest, from cyclists who were there." canonical_url: "https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan" meta: "og:description": "Cycling Taiwan: visa, border crossings, safety, transport, places to sleep and points of interest, from cyclists who were there." "og:image": "https://cycleplanet.org/_og/d/c_Blauwdruk%2Ctitle_Bicycle%2Btouring%2Bin%2BTaiwan%2Cdescription_~Q3ljbGluZyBUYWl3YW46IHZpc2EsIGJvcmRlciBjcm9zc2luZ3MsIHNhZmV0eSwgdHJhbnNwb3J0LCBwbGFjZXMgdG8gc2xlZXAgYW5kIHBvaW50cyBvZiBpbnRlcmVzdCwgZnJvbSBjeWNsaXN0cyB3aG8gd2VyZSB0aGVyZS4%2Cheadline_Eastern%2BAsia%2CsiteName_Cycle%2BPlanet%2Clogo_CP%2Cp_Ii9jb3VudHJpZXMvdGFpd2FuIg%2Cs_quuhH3uel_SwCxdQ.png" "og:image:height": "600" "og:image:type": image/png "og:image:width": "1200" "og:title": "Bicycle touring in Taiwan" "twitter:image": "https://cycleplanet.org/_og/d/c_Blauwdruk%2Ctitle_Bicycle%2Btouring%2Bin%2BTaiwan%2Cdescription_~Q3ljbGluZyBUYWl3YW46IHZpc2EsIGJvcmRlciBjcm9zc2luZ3MsIHNhZmV0eSwgdHJhbnNwb3J0LCBwbGFjZXMgdG8gc2xlZXAgYW5kIHBvaW50cyBvZiBpbnRlcmVzdCwgZnJvbSBjeWNsaXN0cyB3aG8gd2VyZSB0aGVyZS4%2Cheadline_Eastern%2BAsia%2CsiteName_Cycle%2BPlanet%2Clogo_CP%2Cp_Ii9jb3VudHJpZXMvdGFpd2FuIg%2Cs_quuhH3uel_SwCxdQ.png" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://cycleplanet.org/llms.txt) Eastern Asia # Taiwan [**View on the map**](https://cycleplanet.org/map?at=23.69781,120.960515,7) ## **About ** No information about this yet. Been here? Help the next cyclist. [Add information](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan/edit/about) ## **Visa ** No information about this yet. Been here? Help the next cyclist. [Add information](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan/edit/visa) ## **Sleeping ** ### **(Formal) camping** Most campsites are open all year round and have good facilities. ### **Ho(s)tels** Youth hostels in Taiwan are five-star hotels at a bargain price. Definitely recommend. Cheap hotels can also be found with a bit of searching. ### **Wild camping** Wild camping is not a problem, occasionally even in city parks. Last updated 9 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan/edit/sleeping) ## **Safety ** ### **Traffic** The Taiwanese population makes massive use of scooters and mopeds. At busy intersections and T-junctions, you as a cyclist can be hindered by scooters and mopeds. Do not deviate from your line, because scooters and mopeds can unexpectedly pass you at high speed. Most intersections and T-junctions have separate areas for cyclists, mopeds and scooters and you can stand in front as a cyclist. Do this too, because you will be visible to turning traffic. Many Taiwanese do not indicate a turn when they are in a turning lane. Please note: some motorists use the separate lanes for cyclists, mopeds and scooters to carry out their overtaking actions. ### **Nature and animals** Eelco had a wonderful time driving around alone. Even the barking dogs that showed up next to my tent turned out to have very neat manners in the end. So safe. Even safer is to bring a "dazzer" for stubborn dogs that keep running after you. Taiwan is nice and warm and beautiful, but if you go high in the mountains it suddenly gets very cold. So bring a nice warm sweater in that case. Last updated 9 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan/edit/safety) ## **Transport ** ### **Train** Officially, the bicycle must be in a bicycle cover. If you don't have one, you can consider purchasing one on site (approx. 40 euros). It is cheaper to send the bike in advance for a few euros or to send it back by night train. We experienced the latter on the east coast, but on the west coast we were able to ride the bicycle with our luggage in wagon 13 (the bicycle wagon) of the express train. It just depends on which station master is on duty, a stiff bureaucratic (East Coast) or a very friendly helpful (West Coast). If there is no separate train set for bicycles, the best chance of getting the bicycle on the regional or express train is by traveling during off-peak hours and packing the bicycle. Railway workers want to keep the aisles in trainsets clear! Last updated 9 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan/edit/transport) ## **Food and drink ** In Taiwan, Chinese and Japanese cuisines are well represented. You can recognize Japanese eateries especially if you have yakitori (grilled chicken products), marinated meat products, soy sauce or seaweed on the menu. Chinese-oriented eateries are recognizable if you can order grilled duck, soup with lots of vegetables and meat or noodles with spicy herb sauce. John: "I have no idea whether there are also vegetarian dishes, but given that blood-filled pig intestines, chicken butts, muggi-chai and a multitude of other things come together in an overfull kitchen, there will probably also be a vegetarian plate somewhere. must be." **Cooking fuel** Coleman screw gas cans can only be found in the larger cities in the better outdoor shops. Alcohol (95%) is available at the drugstore for a Trangia stove. **Markets** The night markets in the major Taiwanese cities are a fusion of Japanese, Chinese and local food cuisines. At these eateries, you can ease the long agony of the live crabs lying on the ice cubes by pointing them out and having them served as a delicious dinner dish. A visit to one of the night markets is a must for any traveler. Keelung has the largest coziest night market in Taiwan. **Supermarkets** The small villages in the mountains have few shops, but there is always a town to be found somewhere. **Stalls on the street** There are many fine, inexpensive roadside eateries and night markets. **Drinkable water** According to Eelco, the tap water is drinkable, but the Taiwanese themselves sometimes think differently. Last updated 9 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan/edit/foodDrink) ## **Other ** **Best time to cycle** The best time is October/November. The typhoons are usually behind us by then, the temperature is a bit lower but still not so cold that it is no longer pleasant to cycle in the mountains. From June to September it's typhoon season, so it's a bit risky to plan your bike ride that way. In addition, it is very hot. In April - May it can also rain for weeks in a row. The end of December to February is wonderful in the south of Taiwan, but the north and in the mountains can be very cold. March is also a perfect month for cycling, just before the rainy season and temperatures can reach the late 20s. **Spare parts** Taiwan is the country where many modern bicycles are made, including the parts. So almost everything can be found. **Nice routes** - North of the capital Taipei, numerous interesting geological phenomena, historical sites and the colorfully decorated temples are just a stone's throw from the highway 2. Outcrops of geological formations are clearly visible all along the north, northeast and east coasts. - The coastal routes (motorways 2 and 11) have many lookouts and short hiking trails, giving visitors ample opportunities to enjoy Taiwan's pristine coastal areas. - Whoever follows coastal route 11 from Hualien to Taitung will encounter the tunnels along the east coast; an alternative is to follow national highway 9 (east rift valley), where you will find many fertile and green areas of Taiwan. The valley is known for its special butterflies, rural life and honey production. - Taroko Kloof is an absolute must as a trip from Hualien. Until Tianxiang, the route is passable for cyclists and contains many lookouts and walking routes (trails), then the steep part to Guanyuan follows. - North of Hualien are the impressive sheer cliffs, Chingshuei Cliffs, along National Highway 9. Taiwanese consider this stretch of highway one of the masterpieces of their country. **Tips** - Taiwan has no cultural or religious regulations regarding your clothing on the bike. - During Chinese New Year, everyone goes on vacation and the whole country is stuck in traffic (and cheering). - Every police station has a bicycle service, which includes: free cold/hot drinking water, toilets, air for tires and tools. - Watch your language during emotional outbursts. What in the Western world can be regarded as "normal" English spoken language, can be experienced as offensive in Taiwan. Police report cases of this kind and apologies will follow. If the victim does not accept an apology, a lawsuit may follow! Last updated 9 Jun 2021 by [Bas Idsinga](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan/edit/other) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"Cycle Planet is the bicycle touring platform: visas, border crossings, places to sleep and points of interest per country, and a community of cyclists who host each other.","name":"Cycle Planet","url":"https://cycleplanet.org/","publisher":{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#identity"}},{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan#webpage","@type":"WebPage","description":"Cycling Taiwan: visa, border crossings, safety, transport, places to sleep and points of interest, from cyclists who were there.","name":"Bicycle touring in Taiwan","url":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan#/schema/breadcrumb-list/#breadcrumb"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#website"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#logo"}},{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#identity","@type":"Organization","email":"info@cycleplanet.org","name":"Cycle Planet","url":"https://cycleplanet.org/","logo":{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#logo"},"sameAs":["https://www.instagram.com/cycle.planet","https://m.facebook.com/Cycle-Planet-100672311813208"]},{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan#/schema/tourist-destination/1","@type":"TouristDestination","name":"Taiwan","touristType":"Bicycle tourers","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressCountry":"TW"},"geo":{"@type":"GeoCoordinates","latitude":23.69781,"longitude":120.960515}},{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan#/schema/breadcrumb-list/#breadcrumb","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Home","item":"https://cycleplanet.org/","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Countries","item":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Taiwan","item":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/taiwan","position":3}]},{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#logo","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Cycle Planet","contentUrl":"https://cycleplanet.org/logo.png","inLanguage":"en","url":"https://cycleplanet.org/logo.png"}]} ``` ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](https://cycleplanet.org/sitemap.md) for all pages.