Travel to Taiwan

Flying to Taiwan

The national airline is China Airlines (www.china-airlines.com). The other major Taiwanese carrier offering international flights to Taiwan is EVA Air (www.evaair.com). Other airlines servicing Taiwan include Emirates (www.emirates.com), KLM (www.klm.com) and Turkish Airlines (www.turkishairlines.com).

Expect prices to rise in the run-up to peak holiday times, particularly Chinese New Year. Fares can often be cheaper in the summer months.

The major airport is: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

Main Airports

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) (www.taoyuan-airport.com/english); Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) (www.kia.gov.tw).

Airport Guides

Flight times

From London - 14 hours (including stopover); New York - 16 hours.

Air passes

Star Alliance Asia Airpass: allows travel to more than 270 destinations in 19 countries including Taiwan (www.staralliance.com). 

oneworld Visit Asia Pass: allows travel to more than 50 destinations in 17 countries including Taiwan (www.oneworld.com).

Departure tax

None.

Travelling to Taiwan by Rail

Driving to Taiwan

Getting to Taiwan by boat

Keelung (kl.twport.com.tw), Taichung (tc.twport.com.tw) and Kaohsiung (kh.twport.com.tw) are the three key ports. There are three ways of arriving from mainland China – a two-stage journey from Fuzhou in China to Taiwan’s Matsu Islands, then from there to Keelung; a direct ferry service from Xiamen to Keelung; or a fast ferry from the Chinese island of Pingtan to Taichung.

Water note

The long-running service from Taiwan to Japan run by Arimura Sangyo Lines has been discontinued. The ferry from Macau to Taiwan has also been suspended indefinitely.

Cruise ships

Various sailing itineraries call in at Taiwan, including selected cruises run by Cunard (www.cunard.com), Seabourn (www.seabourn.com), Silversea (www.silversea.com) and Star Cruises (www.starcruises.com). These itineraries tend to incorporate numerous other stopping-off points in the Far East though, and most only touch on Taiwan itself, giving little or no chance for lengthy exploration.

Ferry operators

Cosco (www.coscotw.com.tw - website in Chinese only) runs services from China to Taiwan.