Taiwan: Night Markets, Mountains and the Island Everyone's Rediscovering

Some islands you visit; Taiwan is one you keep circling back to. In a single day you can climb through marble gorges, ride a gondola over tea terraces, and end the night elbow-deep in a food market that never seems to close. For 2026, this compact, wildly varied island has quietly become one of Asia’s most rewarding trips - and one Indian travellers are only just beginning to discover.

Why Taiwan is having its moment in 2026

Taiwan has spent years in the shadow of louder neighbours, and that is exactly why it feels like a discovery now. It offers the food culture, efficiency, and safety that draw people to Japan, but with smaller crowds, gentler prices, and a warmth that locals extend without hesitation.

Two things are shifting the map for 2026. First, Taiwan has been steadily simplifying entry, expanding visa-exempt access for dozens of nationalities and moving its arrival formalities online. Second - and this matters directly for India - EVA Air has signalled its intent to launch non-stop flights between Taipei and Delhi by around early December 2026 (pending regulatory approval), which would be a genuine first for the India-Taiwan corridor. Add a high-speed rail line that stitches the west coast together and English signage that has improved markedly, and the island has never been easier to travel independently.

The signature experiences: markets, mountains and mist

Taiwan’s magic is in how quickly its scenery changes. A short list worth building a trip around:

• Taipei’s night markets. This is the beating heart of the culture. Shilin is the famous one, but Raohe Street - anchored by an ornate temple - is more atmospheric, and Ningxia is a tighter, tastier crawl. Come hungry for pepper buns, oyster omelettes, bubble tea (invented here), and stinkier things you will be glad you tried.
• Taroko Gorge. A cathedral of marble cliffs and jade-green river on the east coast near Hualien. It is spectacular, but note that recent earthquakes and typhoons have closed sections and trails for repair - check current access before you commit, and treat guided visits as the safe default.
• Jiufen. The lantern-lit hillside town of red glow and narrow tea-house lanes, said to have inspired the look of a famous animated film. Go late afternoon into dusk, when the sea haze rolls in and the lanterns switch on.
• Sun Moon Lake. Taiwan’s serene alpine centre - cycle the shoreline, take the ropeway, and drink tea grown on the surrounding slopes.
• Alishan. Misty cypress forest and a beloved sunrise train that climbs above a sea of clouds. This is Taiwan at its most poetic.

A rhythm that works: a ~7 to 10 day flow

You can see a great deal in about a week, more comfortably in ten days.

• Days 1 to 3 - Taipei. Ease in with Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum’s astonishing collection, Beitou’s hot springs, and two or three different night markets. Base yourself here and let the metro do the work.
• Day 4 - Jiufen and the northeast coast. A day trip up to the lantern town, the waterfalls near Shifen, and the rugged Yehliu rock formations.
• Days 5 to 6 - the east. Head to Hualien for Taroko Gorge (access permitting) and the wide Pacific coastline - one of Taiwan’s most cinematic stretches.
• Days 7 to 8 - the centre. Sun Moon Lake for calm water and tea country, then up to Alishan for the cloud-sea sunrise.
• Days 9 to 10 - the south. Finish in Tainan, the old capital, for temples and arguably the island’s best street food, or in laid-back Kaohsiung by the harbour.

The high-speed rail runs the length of the populated west coast in a couple of hours, so distances shrink fast. The east and the mountains are where you slow down.

For travellers from India: visas, flights, timing and food

Entry. Indian passport holders do need a visa or travel authorisation - India is not on Taiwan’s visa-exempt list. The most attractive route for many is the free, online ROC Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC): if you hold a valid (or recently expired, within 10 years) visa or residence permit from the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, or a Schengen country, you can apply online at no cost. It allows multiple entries, is valid for 90 days, and permits a stay of up to 14 days per entry. If you do not qualify, apply for the Taiwan eVisa (roughly USD 31 single-entry / USD 62 multiple-entry) or a standard visitor visa. Whichever you use, note that all travellers now complete the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) online shortly before arrival - a quick form, but do not skip it.

Flights. Today there is no non-stop service across the whole country, but EVA Air operates Mumbai to Taipei, and most travellers connect via hubs like Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Kuala Lumpur - typically a one-stop journey. Keep an eye on the anticipated non-stop Taipei-Delhi launch around late 2026, which could reshape the trip entirely.

Best time to go. Aim for spring (March to May) or autumn (October to November) - mild, clear, and comfortable for both hiking and markets. Avoid the July-to-September typhoon window, which can close mountain trails at short notice. Winter is quiet and cool with early cherry blossoms; deep summer is hot and humid.

Food and connectivity. Vegetarians travel remarkably well here - Taiwan’s strong Buddhist tradition means dedicated vegetarian (often signposted with a swastika-like symbol meaning “su”) eateries are everywhere, though always confirm dishes at the stall. A local SIM or eSIM is cheap and coverage is excellent; the metro and rail systems accept the tap-and-go EasyCard, which you will use constantly.

Planning it so it actually flows

Taiwan rewards a light, well-sequenced plan more than a packed one. The classic mistake is trying to ring the whole island in a week and spending the trip on trains. Pick two or three anchors - Taipei plus the east, or the centre plus the south - and let the days breathe. Book Alishan and Sun Moon Lake stays ahead in peak season, confirm Taroko access close to travel, and leave room for the unplanned market you stumble into at 9pm. That, more than any monument, is the Taiwan people fall for.