Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and is among the most comfortable cities in East Asia to walk. The metro is tidy, people are helpful, and the night markets show the country’s real cooking. One point has to be known in advance: Taiwan is not visa-free for citizens of Azerbaijan and no electronic visa is issued either. Below I have written about both the city and the visa question.
How to get a visa for Taipei
Taiwan has included our passport neither in its visa-free list nor in its online visa system. That means the application is made the classic way, through an embassy or representative office, and the documents are submitted in person. There is no Taiwanese representation in Azerbaijan, so the application is made to an office in a third country.
This is the most important point to take into account when planning the route, because the visa process takes several weeks. Do not confuse Taiwan with China: the visa-free regime for mainland China does not apply here. The document package is standard, but an accommodation booking and a return ticket are compulsory.
The centre of the city in Taipei
Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world for a long time and is still the city’s landmark. You can go up to the observation deck, but the better view is on Elephant Mountain opposite, reached by a twenty-minute climb of steps, and entry is free.
The National Palace Museum holds the largest part of the Chinese imperial collection and requires several hours. At the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall the changing of the guard ceremony is held every hour. Between the two it is half an hour by metro.
The night markets, Jiufen and the hot springs
The Shilin and Raohe night markets are the best places to eat in the city. The prices are small and so are the portions, which means you can try several stalls. Halal food is limited, but there is plenty of vegetarian choice, because Buddhist cooking is widespread.
Jiufen is an old town on a mountain slope, known for its red lanterns and stepped streets, and is an hour from the city. Beitou is a hot spring district reached by metro and half a day is enough. Comparing Jiufen and north coast programmes settles the transport question.
Read more: Visa types: C and D type, the number of entries and the transit visa
Transport and budget in Taipei
The metro reaches every part of the city and is paid for with the card called EasyCard; the same card also works on the bus and in shops. From Taoyuan airport to the centre the metro takes forty minutes. The city is comfortable for cycling and the public bicycle network works with the same card.
| Three-star hotel | 50–90 dollars a night |
| Hostel bed | 15–25 dollars |
| Dinner at a night market | 5–10 dollars a head |
| Visa | From the embassy, no e-visa |
Staying on a metro line settles everything here, because the city is spread out, so choose hotels by the station. There is no direct flight; you go via Istanbul, Doha and Dubai, so compare ticket prices in the Taipei direction with the transit options. Official tourism information is on the Taiwan Tourism Administration site.
Season in Taipei
October–April is the most comfortable period, with the weather at 18–26 degrees. March and April can pass rainy, but the temperature is pleasant. June–August is hot and very humid, and on top of that July–September is typhoon season, when flights and mountain roads can be closed. December–February is cool, and it is precisely the best time for the hot springs.
A last word
Taipei is among the most comfortable cities for those going to Asia for the first time, and the only difficulty is the visa stage. Allow several weeks for the visa, stay on a metro line, keep the evening for a night market, and take the typhoon months into account. If you want to combine East Asia with several cities, you can look at the ready-made tour options. For a visa and a route, fill in the application form.
Note: visa rules may change, so confirm with the official representation before applying.
