Cheap Accommodation In Taiwan
Taiwan is one of those destinations that punches well above its weight for budget travelers. You get night markets serving some of the best street food in Asia, mountains and coastline within a couple of hours of every major city, and an efficient public transport system that makes getting around cheap and stress-free. Add to that a currency that stretches further than most people expect, and it’s easy to see why so many travelers on tight budgets keep coming back. Whether you’re chasing hot springs in the north, temples in Tainan, or the dramatic gorges of the east coast, accommodation in Taiwan rarely has to eat up much of your travel budget. Use the search box above to compare accommodation options in Taiwan and find the best deal for your dates.
Getting There: Cheap Ways to Reach Taiwan
Most Australians flying into Taiwan land at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, with some regional carriers also servicing Kaohsiung in the south. Fares are generally more affordable if you avoid school holidays and book a few months ahead, and it’s worth comparing prices into both Taipei and Kaohsiung if your itinerary is flexible, since flying into one and out of the other can sometimes work out cheaper and saves backtracking. Budget carriers occasionally run routes to Taiwan from Australia via Southeast Asian hubs, which can shave a fair bit off the cost if you don’t mind a longer travel day. Once you land, the airport MRT line into Taipei is inexpensive and far cheaper than a taxi, and buses connect Kaohsiung’s airport to the city centre in under half an hour.
Best Time to Visit Taiwan
Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) are generally considered the best times to visit Taiwan, with mild temperatures and lower humidity than the summer months. These shoulder seasons also tend to bring better accommodation rates, since summer school holidays and Lunar New Year push prices up across the island. Summer brings heat, humidity, and the occasional typhoon, particularly from June through September, which can disrupt travel plans on the east coast. Winter is mild in the lowlands but can be cool and wet in the north, while the mountains get genuinely cold. If keeping costs down is the priority, avoid Lunar New Year entirely, as much of the country shuts down or hikes prices during this period.
Top Attractions in Taiwan
Taipei 101 remains the most photographed landmark in Taiwan, and while the observation deck costs money, simply walking around its base and the surrounding Xinyi district is free. The National Palace Museum in Taipei houses one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese art and artefacts, with entry priced modestly compared to museums of similar calibre elsewhere. Further afield, the temples of Tainan, the old streets of Jiufen with their lantern-lit laneways, and the marble cliffs of Taroko Gorge on the east coast are all worth building a trip around. Sun Moon Lake in the central highlands is another highlight, and cycling around it is a cheap way to spend a full day. Many of Taiwan’s best sights, including temples, night markets, and old towns, cost nothing more than the price of getting there.
For Families and Kids in Taiwan
Taiwan is a genuinely easy place to travel with children. Taipei’s Daan Forest Park and Da’an area offer open green space and playgrounds free of charge, while the Maokong Gondola gives kids a scenic ride over tea plantations for a reasonable fare. Children’s Recreation Centres and science-focused museums in the bigger cities are affordable and well set up for younger visitors, and the extensive, clean MRT systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung make family travel around the cities simple without needing a car. Night markets are also very family-friendly, with plenty of familiar snack options alongside the more adventurous street food.
Outdoors and Nature Around Taiwan
Despite its size, Taiwan packs in an enormous amount of natural scenery. Taroko National Park on the east coast is the standout, with marble gorges, suspension bridges, and hiking trails ranging from easy boardwalks to more demanding multi-day routes. Yangmingshan National Park, just outside Taipei, offers hot springs, hiking trails, and volcanic scenery that’s easily reached by public bus. Alishan, famous for its sunrise views over a sea of clouds, is a popular overnight trip from Chiayi, while the east coast towns of Hualien and Taitung serve as gateways to some of the island’s quietest beaches and mountain scenery. Most national parks charge little or nothing for entry, making them some of the best value experiences in the country.
Local Culture and Heritage in Taiwan
Taiwan’s culture is a layered mix of Indigenous Austronesian heritage, centuries of Hokkien and Hakka settlement, Japanese colonial influence, and post-1949 mainland Chinese migration, all of which show up in the architecture, food, and temples you’ll come across. Cities like Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city, are full of centuries-old temples and traditional shophouses, while Japanese-era buildings still stand in parts of Taipei and Taichung. Indigenous culture, particularly in the mountainous east and south, is increasingly celebrated through museums, festivals, and craft markets. Taking time to visit a local temple during a festival, or simply wandering an old town like Lukang, gives a much richer sense of Taiwan than the big city sights alone.
Eating in Taiwan on a Budget
Food is where Taiwan really delivers for budget travelers. Night markets in every city sell substantial meals for just a few dollars, from beef noodle soup and oyster omelettes to grilled skewers and stinky tofu, and grazing your way through a few stalls is often cheaper and more interesting than sitting down at a restaurant. Small local eateries, often marked only in Chinese with plastic stools out front, serve some of the best value meals in the country, and convenience stores like 7-Eleven and FamilySmart are genuinely good for cheap, decent food when you’re in a hurry. For a sit-down meal without the tourist markup, look for restaurants filled with locals rather than those with English menus posted outside, as these tend to charge more for the same dishes.
Accommodation Options in Taiwan
Accommodation in Taiwan covers everything from simple hostel dorms to boutique guesthouses, and prices remain reasonable across most of the country outside of peak holiday periods. Cities like Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan all have well-established backpacker and budget hotel scenes, while smaller towns near national parks tend to offer simpler guesthouses at even lower rates.
Budget and Cheapest Options
Hostels are plentiful in every major Taiwanese city, with dorm beds and simple private rooms available at prices well below what you’d pay in most Western countries. Many hostels in Taipei and Kaohsiung are centrally located near MRT stations, making it easy to explore without spending extra on transport. Outside the cities, family-run guesthouses near national parks and smaller towns are often the cheapest and most characterful option.
Family Accommodation
Serviced apartments and larger guesthouse rooms are common in Taiwan’s bigger cities and tend to offer better value for families than booking multiple hotel rooms. Many of these come with basic kitchen facilities, which helps cut down on eating-out costs over a longer stay.
Boutique and Long-Stay Accommodation
Taiwan has a growing number of boutique guesthouses, particularly in heritage towns like Tainan and Jiufen, where restored old buildings have been converted into stylish, small-scale accommodation. For travelers staying longer, monthly rental apartments in cities like Taipei and Taichung can work out considerably cheaper per night than hotel stays, and are worth looking into if you’re basing yourself in one city for study, work, or an extended holiday.
Hot Springs Accommodation
Given Taiwan’s volcanic geography, hot spring towns like Beitou (just outside Taipei) and Jiaoxi offer accommodation ranging from budget guesthouses with shared soaking pools to pricier resort-style options. Even the cheaper options here often include access to hot spring facilities, which makes them good value for a relaxing night away from the cities.
Shopping in Taiwan
Night markets double as shopping hubs, selling everything from cheap clothing and phone accessories to local crafts and souvenirs, and bargaining is generally acceptable at market stalls, though not in shops with fixed price tags. Taipei’s Ximending district is the place for youth fashion and streetwear, while traditional crafts, tea, and pottery are better sourced from towns like Yingge or Lukang. For everyday essentials, supermarkets and convenience stores are cheap and everywhere, so there’s rarely a need to overpay at tourist-focused shops.
Nightlife and Free Fun in Taiwan
Taiwan’s night markets are as much an evening activity as they are a place to eat, and simply wandering through one costs nothing beyond whatever food you decide to try. Taipei has a reasonably lively bar scene, particularly around Ximending and the Da’an district, while riverside parks along the Tamsui and Keelung rivers are popular free spots for evening walks and cycling. Temple night markets, karaoke spots, and public parks lit up after dark all offer low-cost ways to spend an evening, and many cities host free outdoor performances or festivals depending on the time of year.
Suggested Budget Itinerary for Taiwan
Start the day with a cheap breakfast from a local bakery or breakfast stall, common throughout Taiwan and often cheaper than any café. Spend the morning exploring a free or low-cost attraction, such as a temple complex, old street, or city park, before grabbing a bowl of noodles or a rice box for lunch at a local eatery. Use the afternoon for a museum visit or a scenic walk, taking advantage of Taiwan’s efficient and affordable public transport to cover more ground without needing a car. As evening sets in, head to the nearest night market for dinner, grazing between a few stalls rather than committing to one big meal, then finish the night with a walk along a riverside park or through a lively shopping district before heading back to your accommodation. Structured this way, a full day of sightseeing, eating, and getting around Taiwan can be done comfortably without spending much at all, leaving more of the budget for the accommodation that suits your trip best.