Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take the cheaper option and rent a vehicle. Many of the scenic and rural sights of Taiwan can’t be experienced except by hiring your own vehicle.
Renting cars or scooters in Taiwan: Taiwan is the scooter capitol of the world. Driving a scooter is dangerous, but scooters are fun. You can stop pretty much anywhere on the side of the road easily and take photos and enjoy the scenery. They are also pretty easy to learn how to operate; if you can already drive a car and/or ride a bike, picking up riding a moped shouldn’t be that hard. There’s not much better of way to experience Taiwan than cruising down the streets like everyone else with the wind blowing in your face. However, if you are afraid that scooters are dangerous, I would suggest renting a car.
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Alishan Forest Railway is one of the most iconic and best preserved historical mountain railways in the world. Starting at the center of Chiayi City, it passes through tropical forests, subtropical hills, and rising into the temperate forests in the mountains, originally ending up at Alishan. It is definitely something you should experience while you are in Taiwan.
Historical Background: The Alishan forest railway was opened in 1912 during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. Originally it was built to transport lumber from mountain areas in Chiayi County, especially cypress and Taiwania wood. The railway consists of narrow gauge track, and has 50 tunnels and70 wooden bridges. After the Alishan highway was completed in 1982 and logging in Taiwan was banned, passengers along the railway dropped considerably. However, the railway has become popular again in recent years due to its unique and historic preservation. Before the railway from Fenqihu to Zhuqi station was opened, passengers had to disembark at Fenqihu to take a bus to Alishan. In recent years, many parts of the railway have been damaged by floods and landslides, closing parts of the railway for days or even years. Currently the railway from Shizilu to Alishan is still impassible, but hopefully will open soon. The railway is known as one of the most beautiful mountain railways in the world. It is also the highest narrow-gage railway in Asia at 2,451 meters (Chushan Station). Currently the railway attracts visitors from all over the world and is one of the most popular attractions in Taiwan. Hours: Chiayi to Shizilu: First train leaves Chiayi at 8:30 AM Last train leaves Chiayi at 9:00 AM Trains return to Chiayi at around 3:00 PM - 4PM A one way trip takes about two and a half hours. Zhushan: 30 minutes (sunrise train) Shenmu: 7 minutes Zhaoping Line: 6 minutes Price: 384 NT one way from Chiayi to Fenqihu, 459 NT one way from Chiayi to Shizilu Zhushan Line: 150 NT per ride Shenmu Line: 100 NT per ride Zhaoping Line: 100 NT per ride How to Buy Tickets: In person: Go to Chiayi Station in person for the Chiayi-Shizilu portion, or Alishan Station for the Zhushan, Shenmu, and Zhaoping lines. The counter to buy tickets is on the right of the main entrance. This is the best way to buy tickets. Online: You can use the online system to buy tickets here. However the online system does not show all tickets and routes available, so if possible it is better to buy in person instead. You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as My Taiwan Tour or a similar website. Where to sit: The best views going up are on the right of the train, and coming down on the left of the train. When to go: Any season. Spring is special because of Cherry blossoms. In the summer (May-October), rock falls due to heavy rains or Typhoons can stop the train for a few days. Make sure to check the train is still running before you go in the summer. Stations: We will cover the following stations in this blog: Chiayi Station 嘉義車站 Beimen 北門站 Lumachan 鹿麻產 Zhuqi 竹奇 Zhangnaoliao 樟腦寮 Dulishan 獨立山 Liyuanliao 梨園寮 Zhaoliping 交力坪 Shuisheliao 水社寮 Fenqihu 奮起湖 Duolin 多林 Shizilu 十字路 First Switch 第一分道 Second Switch 第二分道 Erwanping 二萬平 Shenmu 神木 Alishan 阿里山 Zhaoping 沼平 Shizifendao 十字分道 Dueigaoyue 對高岳 Chushan 祝山 Mian Yue/Tashan Line 眠月線/塔山線 Dongpu Line 東埔線 Shuishan Line 水山線 How to get there: Most passengers board from Chiayi TRA Station or the nearby Beimen TRA Station. Got to Alishan Station for the Zhushan, Shenmu, and Zhaoping lines. Maps: Please see a map of all the stations below: 
Taiwan is one of the best countries in the world. Everyone should learn more about this bastion of democracy in Asia, which also happens to be the best kept tourism secret in Asia. There is so much here to do and explore, and thanks to a great quality of life it has been constantly named one of the best places for foreign expats to settle.
For those of you that are new to Taiwan or know little about it, we have created this short listicle to help educate you about this amazing country. 1. Taiwan is Not Your Home Country 臺灣不是你的家鄉 
Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take the cheaper option and rent a vehicle. Many of the scenic and rural sights of Taiwan can’t be experienced except by hiring your own vehicle.
Renting a Vehicle in Taiwan: Taiwan is the scooter capitol of the world. Driving a scooter is dangerous, but scooters are fun. They are also pretty easy to learn how to operate; if you can already drive a car and/or ride a bike, picking up riding a moped shouldn’t be that hard. There’s not much better of way to experience Taiwan than cruising down the streets like everyone else with the wind blowing in your face. However, if you are looking to get around the island faster, are travelling with multiple people, have lots of luggage, or you are afraid that scooters are dangerous, I would suggest renting a car. Car Rental Fast Facts: Where? Car rental places can be found next to most airports and in all major cities. But don’t expect them right next to every small train station. Pricing? Cheap would be $1000-1500 a day, average would be $2000+ a day, and expensive would be $3,000+ a day. Discounts are often given for multiple day rentals and for weekdays. Do I need a local license? No. However, you should get an international driver’s permit. If you don’t have an international driver’s permit there is no guarantee that you can rent a car. Check with the rental agency beforehand and make necessary preparations. How do I get a local Taiwanese licence? Check out our guide on getting a driver's licence in Taiwan here. Does Taiwan have Uber? Yes but its just as expensive as a Taxi. Uber was banned and fined multiple times because their business model was deemed illegal. Uber drivers were required to have a professional driver’s licence. Now they work with local rental car companies to keep the app going in Taiwan. What side of the road does Taiwan drive on? The Right side. How much is the price of gas? As of March, 2018 it is around 27 NT per liter for 95 octane gas. Anything else I should be aware of when driving in Taiwan? Yes!
Do you have any recommendations? Yes! We have rented before with Car 880 超省錢租車. They are so far the cheapest car rental company we have found. Their rates start at 880 NT on weekdays: http://www.car880.com.tw/. We are not getting paid by advertising for them by the way. Also be aware they are not English capable. Knowing a little Chinese could save you some money. Summation of Rental Car Companies in Taiwan: (please note this is not a complete list. Other discounts and offers can be found on each company's website) Car 880 超省錢租車 website: http://www.car880.com.tw/
Good Cars website: https://www.goodcars.com.tw/
Avis Taiwan 安維斯租車 website: https://www.avis-taiwan.com/us/
HLC 和運租車 website: https://www.easyrent.com.tw/English/
Jinfeng Car Rental 進豐租車 website: http://www.1car-rent.com.tw/service.php
Budget website: https://www.budget.com/en/locations/tb
CarPlus 格上租車 website: https://www.car-plus.com.tw/EN/ugC_AboutUs.asp
Renting a Scooter? Check out our blog about scooter rental in Taiwan here. Feel free to contact us with any specific questions about car or scooter rental in Taiwan, and please like, comment, and share! -FiTW 
Foreword: Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of questions. This is meant to only give a basic overview of Taiwan's transportation to those who have never been there.
Does Taiwan require a visa?/ Does Taiwan need visas? If you are a foreign national from one of the 46 countries that have Visa free entry, then no. Otherwise, yes. Does my Country’s passport have a visa free entry into Taiwan? Currently there are a total of 46 countries that are visa free to come to Taiwan. They are listed below according to number of days and geographic area: 14 days visa-exempt countries: Philippines, trial 30 days visa-exempt countries: (total of 2 countries) Asia Pacific: Malaysia, Singapore 90-day visa-free countries: 40 countries In Asia Pacific: Japan, Republic of Korea (2 countries total) North America: Canada, United States of America (2 countries total) Europe Region: United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Vatican City State, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Andorra, San Marino (36 in total) Passport validity should be more than six months. (Formal passports, official and diplomatic official passports are applicable, excluding emergency, temporary, other informal passports or travel documents). However, the validity period of a Japanese passport must be longer than three months. The validity period of a U.S. passport (including the U.S. emergency passport) should only be longer than the planned date of stay. Persons holding emergency or temporary passports (except for nationals of the United States) should apply for a visa from my embassy or apply for a visa when arriving in Taoyuan or Kaohsiung airport. U. S. emergency passport holders are eligible for visa-free treatment. Which countries are visa free for Taiwanese nationals? Click here for a list of visa free countries for Taiwanese nationals. If my country’s passport does not have visa free entry into Taiwan, what should I do? First, you should decide which visa you need. There are three different types of visas:
Fill in the visa application form online at https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw. Fill in the visa application information and print the application form signature. You will also need to provide the following (as applicable):
How much is a Taiwan Visa? If you are not from a Visa free country, for a one time entry visa, the visa fee is US $ 50; and the multiple entry visa fee is US $ 100; relative processing fees is US $ 160, however these fees may vary. Please check the local Taiwan representative office in you country for the latest information and fees relevant to your home country. How much is a Taiwanese Visa in the Philippines? For a visitor visa, currently the Philippines has a free 14 day trial visa exemption. Otherwise please check with the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines here. How much for a flight to Taiwan? From personal experience, flights to and from Taiwan are more expensive in the summer. For instance, an economy, multiple stop, round trip flight from Taipei to Seattle can get up to $1,2000 USD or more during the summer. However if you book during non-busy times such as September or October, and book well in advance, you could get flights as cheap as $500+ USD for a round trip from the US. We suggest using Google Flights to find the cheapest flights with flexible dates. Which airport should I use in Taiwan? The Taipei Taoyuan Airport is the biggest airport in Taiwan, and is a 40 minute trip from Taipei. It should have the most and the cheapest flights outside of Asia. For travelling to or from other Asian countries you may consider: Taipei Songshan Airport: This airport lies in the middle of Taipei and is convineinet to get to and from. Kaohsiung International Airport: This Airport lies in the heart of Kaohsiung and is connected to the MRT, making it easy and convenient to use. Taichung Airport: We have not used this airport personally, but we know many people that have used this for travel within Asia. If you want to travel quickly to Taiwan’s outer islands, you may consider: Taitung, Orchis Isalnd, and Green Island Airports: Airports that connects Taiwan to the east coast and to Orchid island and Green island. Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu Airports: These airports connect the islands of Penghu and Kinmen to the main island of Taiwan. Why is Taiwan the heart of Asia? From a purely geographical perspective, Taiwan lies in a central location in East Asia, between China, Kong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea, and is also close to the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries, making it a prime spot for an Asian hub. Taiwan also is highly influenced culturally by other East Asian nations, such as China, Japan, and Korea. How do I get to the airport from Taipei? To get from Taipei Main Station to the Taoyuan International Airport, you have a few options:
How much for a Taiwan trip? For a week of vacationing in Taiwan, you can budget for 1000 USD and probably have a few hundred dollars left over. But this depends on what you want to do, what kind of hotels you want to stay in, and what your budget is. For a one week trip for one person, plan to spend about 1500-3000 NT per night for a decent hotel (10,500-21,000 NT for a week), 100-150 NT per meal for low end restaurants (2,100-3,150 NT per week), maybe 3,000-5,000 NT on travel (depending on where you want to go), and 1,000 NT or so to buy small gifts for your family back home. This would be a grand total of 16,600-30,150 NT (553-1005 USD). How do I travel in Taiwan? You have a few options:
Does Taiwan have Uber? Yes, but its just as expensive as a Taxi. Uber was banned and fined multiple times because their business model was deemed illegal. Uber drivers were required to have a professional driver’s licence. Now Uber works with local rental car companies to keep their app going. What side of the road does Taiwan drive on? The Right side. What plug/power does Taiwan use?/What kind of adapter do I need for Taiwan?/What kind of plug do I need in Taiwan? Taiwan uses the same power and plugs as the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. The standard voltage is 100V at 60Hz. If you are from Europe Australia, Asia, or Africa, you will need to bring a voltage converter. Click here to search voltage converters on Amazon. What time does the Taiwan MRT close?/ When does the Taiwan MRT close? The Taipei and Kaohsiung MRTs close at 12:00 AM midnight. They open again at 6:00 AM. The last train at the MRT usually leaves from 11:00PM-12:00AM midnight. To search for exact times for the last train, click here. How do I rent a car in Taiwan? Please read our blog about car rental in Taiwan here. How do I get a local Taiwanese licence? Check out our guide on getting a driver's licence in Taiwan here. How do I rent a scooter in Taiwan? Please read our blog about scooter rental in Taiwan here. How do I use a Youbike in Taiwan? To use Youbike you will need to buy an Easy card (悠游卡) or iPass card (一卡通). These cards can be purchased at most MRT stations, and are usually $100 NT. Once you have a card, you will need to register it at a Youbike Station using a local cell phone number. If you do not have a cell phone number in Taiwan, you can go to a local cell provider such as Chuanghua Telecom or Taiwan Mobile and show your passport to buy a SIM card. Alternatively, you can use a credit card with a security to rent a Youbike (can only be used one time per card). Fares are 10 NT for 30 minutes, or free for the first 30 minutes if your trip originates from New Taipei City. After you have a card you should:
How do I use an Obike in Taiwan?
Where is Taiwan on a map? Taiwan is in the heart of Asia! Where is New Taipei City? New Taipei City (formerly Taipei County), is located in northern Taiwan, surrounding Taipei City. Please refer to the map below: Where is Yilan in Taiwan? Yilan lies on the Northeast Coast of Taiwan. It is famous for its beaches, hot springs, and food. Please refer to the map below: Where is Taipei in Taiwan?/Where is Taipei on a Map? Taipei City is located in northern Taiwan, laying in the middle of the Taipei Basin surrounded by New Taipei City. Please refer to the map below: Where is Alishan in Taiwan? Alishan lies in the mountains of South-Central Taiwan. It is a beautiful forested area with a historical train the circles the park. The quickest way to get there is through Chiayi City. Where is Jiufen in Taiwan? Jiufen is a city that sits on a hill in northern New Taipei City. It is famous for its breathtaking views of the north coast, architecture that supposedly was inspiration for Spirited Away, and great food. It can be reached by bus from Taipei. Where is Hualien in Taiwan? Hualien lies on Taiwan’s east central coast. It is the gateway to Taroko national park, which has some of the most beautiful views of Taiwan's mountain scenery, including Taroko Gorge. Where is Kenting in Taiwan? Kenting lies on the southern tip of Taiwan. It has some of the warmest weather and best beaches in Taiwan.
Have any more questions about travel and transportation in Taiwan? Please leave them in the comments below, and we might just add them to the list!
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Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
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