7-day Taiwan itinerary for Filipinos: Taipei, Taichung and day trips

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Taiwan offers good food, night markets, city views, and scenic day trips. The key is deciding how much to include without rushing between stations.

Planning a Taiwan trip from the Philippines? This 7-day Taiwan itinerary for Filipinos gives you four nights in Taipei and two nights in Taichung. From those two bases, you can visit Jiufen, Shifen, Beitou, Tamsui and Sun Moon Lake without changing hotels every day.

Philippine ordinary passport holders can currently enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 14 days, subject to entry conditions. The trial arrangement is in place until 31 July 2027.¹ Check the official rules again before booking, as immigration requirements can change.

Read our guide to Taiwan visa requirements for Filipinos before you travel.

We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

🚀 Get your Wise card

Is 7 days enough for Taiwan?

Seven days is enough for a first trip covering Taipei, nearby day trips, Taichung, and Sun Moon Lake. If you have fewer leave days or prefer a slower pace, split it into separate holidays:

• Taipei and northern Taiwan, 4–5 days: Taipei, Jiufen, Shifen, Beitou, and Tamsui
• Taichung and central Taiwan, 3–4 days: Taichung and Sun Moon Lake, with an extra day for another central Taiwan destination

Separate trips mean less packing and more flexibility, especially if you find a good return fare to Taipei.

Planning flights to Taiwan from the Philippines

Most travellers following this route will use Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Compare flights from Manila, Cebu, or Clark, including checked-baggage costs.

A late flight may leave room only for dinner and check-in on Day 1. An early return flight doesn't pair well with a final night in Taichung. Move closer to Taoyuan Airport on Day 6, or skip Sun Moon Lake and return north earlier.

Most Filipino tourists need to pay Philippine travel tax unless they qualify for an exemption or reduced rate. Check whether it is already included in your ticket before paying separately.¹² Read our guide to Philippine travel tax for more details.

7-day Taiwan itinerary at a glance

Spend four nights in Taipei before moving to Taichung for two nights. This two-base route combines city sightseeing with day trips to northern and central Taiwan while limiting hotel changes.

The summary below covers the trip’s main logistics, including the airport, destinations, transport and overall pace.

How much should you budget for 7 days in Taiwan?

Start with live prices for your flights and six hotel nights, then add food, transport, attractions, insurance, data, shopping, and emergency funds.

These official transport prices can help you estimate part of your budget:⁷ ⁸ ⁹

The conversions use an indicative rate of 1 TWD to about 1.916 PHP, viewed on 7 August 2026. Exchange rates move, so check the current TWD to PHP rate when budgeting.

Compare any transport pass with the trips you'll actually take. Day tours, taxis, shopping, and meals aren't included above.

Detailed 7-day Taiwan itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive in Taipei and explore Ximending

Morning or afternoon — Arrival and hotel check-in

Allow time for immigration, baggage collection, and the trip into Taipei. The Airport MRT serves Taipei Main Station. A taxi or pre-booked transfer may suit groups with several bags.

Stay near Taipei Main Station, Ximending, or Zhongshan for convenient transport and food. Leave your bags with the hotel if needed. Taiwan's official portal lets you check whether accommodation is legally registered.¹⁴ Keep the day flexible in case of delays.

Evening — Ximending and an easy first dinner

Walk around Ximending and try beef noodle soup, lu rou fan, fried chicken, or bubble tea. Keep it brief if you land late. The area is connected by metro, and you don't need to reserve a specific restaurant.

Day 2 — See central Taipei and the Xinyi skyline

Morning — Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Start at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and explore the square and gardens. Check for closures, then have lunch nearby.

Afternoon — Longshan Temple and old Taipei

Take the metro to Longshan Temple and walk through the surrounding historic streets. If you have time, continue to Dihua Street for shops, tea, snacks, and pasalubong. Dress and behave respectfully in worship areas.

Evening — Taipei 101 and Xinyi

Head to Xinyi for Taipei 101 and dinner. Book the observatory ahead on busy dates. If visibility is poor, enjoy the area at ground level. Check the last metro service before staying late.

Day 3 — Take a Jiufen and Shifen day trip

Morning — Shifen Old Street and waterfall area

Leave Taipei early for Shifen. The area is known for its railway setting and Shifen Waterfall. The visitor centre is around a 15-minute walk from Shifen Station.⁶

Travel independently by train or book a guided tour. A tour can simplify fitting both stops into one day. Check inclusions and the Taipei return point.

Afternoon and evening — Jiufen Old Street

Continue to Jiufen for hillside lanes, tea houses, local snacks, and views towards the sea. Taiwan's Tourism Administration highlights Jiufen Old Street as the village's main shopping area.⁵

Jiufen has slopes and stairs, so wear shoes with good grip and bring a light rain layer. Check the final bus or tour departure before settling into a tea house. Return to Taipei for a simple dinner.

Day 4 — Visit Beitou and Tamsui

Morning — Beitou hot-spring district

Take the metro to Xinbeitou and choose one or two stops, such as the hot-spring museum, library, or Thermal Valley. Reserve private baths ahead and check each property's booking time, dress policy, and age rules.

Afternoon and evening — Tamsui waterfront

Continue to Tamsui for the old street, waterfront, snacks, and sunset if the weather cooperates. Eat there or return to central Taipei, then pack for tomorrow.

Day 5 — Travel to Taichung and explore the city

Morning — High Speed Rail to Taichung

Check out and take the HSR from Taipei to Taichung. A non-reserved adult ticket is listed at 675 TWD.⁸ Reserved seats can be useful on busy dates.

Taichung HSR Station is in Wuri, outside the centre. Transfer by local train, MRT, bus, or taxi. Stay near Taichung Station for transport or in the West District for cafés and central attractions.

Afternoon — Calligraphy Greenway

Explore Calligraphy Greenway, a 3.6-kilometre corridor linking museums, public spaces, shops, and places to eat.¹⁰ Choose one museum or shorten the walk as needed.

Evening — Taichung night market

Choose Feng Chia Night Market or one nearer your hotel. Carry cash and ask the price before ordering when it isn't displayed.

Day 6 — Take a Sun Moon Lake day trip

Morning and afternoon — Sun Moon Lake

Leave early for Sun Moon Lake. Public transport commonly runs via Taichung HSR Station and bus, while an organised tour can reduce transfers. The official tourism site lists directions and stops.¹¹

Choose two or three priorities: the Xiangshan area, a boat ride, lakeside cycling, or Ita Thao. Check the weather and last bus before starting a longer route.

Evening — Return to Taichung or move closer to the airport

Return to Taichung for dinner. For an early flight tomorrow, move to Taipei or Taoyuan tonight, or skip Sun Moon Lake and travel north earlier. Central Taichung to the airport involves more than one transport leg.

Day 7 — Depart from Taiwan

Morning or afternoon — Travel to Taoyuan Airport

For a later flight, take the HSR to Taoyuan and transfer to the Airport MRT. Leave a generous buffer for connections, baggage, check-in, and immigration.

Complete the Philippine eTravel declaration within 72 hours before returning home.³ Check customs rules before packing food, alcohol, cosmetics, supplements, or goods in commercial quantities.¹³

Evening — Arrival in the Philippines

Keep your passport, boarding pass, and eTravel details handy. For a late arrival in the Philippines, plan your journey home in advance.

Practical Taiwan travel tips

Use these practical tips to plan when to visit, prepare your entry documents, get around and stay connected during your trip.

When is the best time to visit Taiwan?

Taiwan is warm and humid for much of the year. The Tourism Administration notes that rain is common from March to May, typhoons can approach from June to August, autumn is generally cooler, and winters are relatively short.⁴ Conditions also vary between cities, mountain areas, and the coast.

Check each stop's forecast.

Taiwan visa and entry requirements for Filipinos

Philippine ordinary passport holders can currently visit Taiwan visa-free for up to 14 days under a trial arrangement ending on 31 July 2027. The passport must generally have at least six months' validity. Travellers should also be ready to show a confirmed onward or return ticket, accommodation details, a contact in Taiwan, and sufficient funds.

Complete the free Taiwan Arrival Card, or TWAC, within seven days before arrival. Foreign nationals without an Alien Resident Certificate, resident visa, or diplomatic ID are among those required to submit it.² The official site doesn't ask for payment.

Complete the free Philippine eTravel declaration within 72 hours before departure and again before returning.³ Save offline copies of your bookings and confirmations.

Information checked on 7 August 2026.

Getting around Taiwan

Use the Airport MRT between Taoyuan Airport and Taipei, the metro within Taipei, local trains or tours for Jiufen and Shifen, and HSR for Taichung. A stored-value card can simplify local transport. These rail and metro systems remain separate even when stations connect.

Staying connected in Taiwan

If your phone supports eSIMs and isn't network-locked, compare coverage, data, validity, hotspot rules, and activation timing. Download maps before day trips.

See our guide to the best eSIMs for international travel.

Shopping and payments in Taiwan

Plan how you’ll pay and what you want to bring home, as payment options can vary between hotels, department stores, night markets, transport counters and smaller shops.

What should you buy in Taiwan?

Popular pasalubong includes pineapple cakes, tea, nougat crackers, beauty products, ceramics, and stationery. Check customs and airline rules before buying food, liquids, or fragile items.

Read our guide to what to buy in Taiwan.

How to pay in Taiwan: cash and cards

Carry both. Cards are useful at hotels, department stores, transport counters, and larger restaurants. Cash remains handy at night markets, traditional shops, smaller food stalls, and businesses that don't accept international cards.

At an ATM or card terminal, you may be asked to pay in PHP or TWD. Choosing PHP uses dynamic currency conversion, or DCC: the operator or merchant converts the transaction using its own rate, which may include a markup or fee.¹⁵

To decline DCC, choose TWD, “local currency” or “without conversion”. Your card provider will then convert the purchase, although its normal exchange-rate markup or foreign transaction fees may still apply. Check your card's terms before travelling.

Learn more about payment methods in Taiwan.

Travelling to Taiwan? Pay directly with your Wise card

Wise does not currently support holding or converting money to TWD in your account. You can still use your Wise card to pay directly in Taiwan wherever the card network is accepted.

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including USD, SGD, GBP, and JPY so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up PHP to get started.

A physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 369.60 PHP. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP each month, before low fees start.

In supported countries, Wise also lets you pay with QR codes, giving you another easy way to pay when cards or cash aren't your first choice. That means you can use Wise for card payments, cash withdrawals, and QR payments, all from the same account.

While abroad, you can choose to spend directly in PHP and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.57%.

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Before travelling to Taiwan: checklist

• Check your passport and the latest visa-free conditions
• Confirm flights, baggage allowances, and accommodation
• Complete TWAC within seven days before arrival
• Complete eTravel within 72 hours before leaving the Philippines
• Review Philippine travel tax
• Book key tours, HSR seats, or hot-spring visits if needed
• Arrange insurance and mobile data
• Carry cards and some TWD
• Save offline copies of important documents
• Rework Day 6 if your return flight is early

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Frequently asked questions

Is 7 days enough for Taiwan?

Yes. Seven days works for Taipei, nearby day trips, Taichung, and Sun Moon Lake if you use two bases. Remove one day trip if you prefer a slower pace.

Can I take separate Taipei and Taichung trips?

Yes. A 4–5-day Taipei trip and a separate 3–4-day Taichung trip can be more relaxed.

Do Filipinos need a visa for Taiwan?

Philippine ordinary passport holders currently have visa-free entry for up to 14 days, subject to conditions. The trial arrangement runs until 31 July 2027. Check the official BOCA page before travelling.¹

Can I use this as a visa itinerary?

This trip currently fits within the visa-free allowance. For an application or travel record, replace every suggestion with your real dates, flights, hotels, and activities.

Where should I stay in Taiwan for this itinerary?

Spend four nights in Taipei and two in Taichung. Consider Taipei Main Station, Ximending, or Zhongshan, then Taichung Station or the West District. Check the official registry before booking.¹⁴

Can I visit Jiufen and Shifen in one day?

Yes, but start early. A guided tour can simplify the connections. If travelling independently, check train and bus times carefully and decide which place matters more in case of delays.

Can I go from Taichung to Taoyuan Airport on departure day?

Yes, for a suitably timed flight. Take the HSR to Taoyuan and transfer to the Airport MRT. For an early flight, sleep nearer the airport or Taipei on Day 6.

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Sources:

1. Taiwan Bureau of Consular Affairs — Visa-exempt entry
2. Taiwan National Immigration Agency — Taiwan Arrival Card FAQs
3. Philippine eTravel — Frequently asked questions
4. Taiwan Tourism Administration — General information and climate
5. Taiwan Tourism Administration — Jiufen
6. Taiwan Tourism Administration — Shifen Scenic Area
7. Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation — Fares and tickets
8. Taiwan High Speed Rail — General fares
9. Taoyuan Metro — Airport MRT and Taipei Metro joint tickets
10. Taichung Tourism and Travel Bureau — Calligraphy Greenway
11. Taiwan Tourism Administration — Sun Moon Lake Xiangshan Visitor Center
12. Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority — Travel Tax
13. Philippine Bureau of Customs — Essential Guide for Travelers
14. Taiwan Tourism Administration — Legal accommodation search
15. Visa — Decoding Dynamic Currency Conversion