Taiwan Holidays from the UK: Flights, Entry Rules and a 9-Night Route

A Taiwan holiday from the UK starts with one long flight and then gets easy. China Airlines flies nonstop from Heathrow to Taipei, British passport holders can stay up to 90 days without a visa, and nine nights is enough for Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Tainan and Kaohsiung. October and November are the best months, followed by March to May. Taiwan is seven or eight hours ahead of the UK, so keep the first day light.

Taiwan had 77,958 visitors from the UK in 2025, a record and higher than before the pandemic, according to the Tourism Administration. That’s still only about 0.9% of the 8.57 million people who arrived that year, and most visitors come from nearby Asian countries.

Taiwan holiday facts for UK travellers

Question	Answer
Nonstop flight from London	China Airlines, Heathrow to Taipei Taoyuan, scheduled at about 13 hours 40 minutes outbound. The return takes longer.
Visa for British passport holders	None for up to 90 days, as a tourist, to visit family or friends, or for business meetings and cultural or sports events.
Extending your stay	You can extend the visa-free stay by a further 90 days after you arrive.
Passport validity	The expiry date must be at least 6 months after the day you arrive.
Arrival card	Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC), online and free, up to 7 days before you land.
Time difference	Taiwan is UTC+8 all year. That is 8 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 7 hours ahead in summer.
Money	New Taiwan dollar (TWD).
Electricity	110 V, 60 Hz, with two-pin Type A and Type B sockets. Bring an adapter, and check that chargers say 100-240 V.
Best months	October to November, then March to May.
Typhoon season	Mainly July to September; storms can also come in June and become less frequent in October.
If something goes wrong	The UK does not recognise Taiwan as a state, so support is limited. The British Office in Taipei is the contact.

How long is the flight from London to Taiwan?

The nonstop flight from London Heathrow to Taipei is scheduled at about 13 hours 40 minutes on China Airlines. It leaves in the evening and lands the next day, so you lose one calendar day. The return flight is scheduled longer. Schedules change with the seasons, so check the airline’s timetable before you plan the rest of the trip.

Other airlines fly one-stop routes, which add a connection and usually a few hours. We plan the ground side of the trip around whichever flight you book.

Don’t schedule much on the first afternoon. A short walk, a Taiwanese dinner and an early night work better than a tour.

Entry rules for British passport holders

You don’t need a visa for a holiday of up to 90 days. Your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after the day you arrive, which is stricter than many UK travellers expect, so check it before you book.

Everyone has to complete the Taiwan Arrival Card online before passing immigration. It’s free. The GOV.UK travel advice still says to submit it within three days of arrival, but Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency widened the window to seven days on 15 July 2026, so you can do it at home the week before. Use the official site at twac.immigration.gov.tw only. If you forget, there’s a QR code at the airport.

Customs checks are strict on animal products. GOV.UK warns that bringing in meat or other animal products without authorisation can mean a heavy fine, so leave the sausage rolls and ham sandwiches at home. Rules can change at short notice, so read the GOV.UK entry requirements for Taiwan again a week before you fly.

When to go

Months	What it’s like	Good for
October to November	Dry, clear and comfortable; typhoons are less frequent	A first trip, mountains and cities together
March to May	Mild and green, with spring blossom in the mountains	Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, tea country
June to September	Hot and humid; typhoons are most active from July to September	Beaches, with flexible mountain plans
December to February	Cool and damp in the north	Hot springs, food, fewer crowds

UK school summer holidays fall in typhoon season, so families need slack in the plan. A typhoon can close mountain roads and cancel trains and flights for a day or two. Our best time to visit Taiwan page goes month by month.

A 9-night Taiwan route

Nine nights on the ground is about eleven days away from home once you count the flights. It covers the north, the central mountains and the old south without a rushed day.

Stop	Nights	What you do	Getting there
Taipei	3	Longshan Temple, the National Palace Museum, night markets, a day trip to Jiufen	Airport to city by metro, taxi or private driver
Sun Moon Lake	2	Lake boat, cycling the shore path, ropeway	High-speed rail to Taichung, then about an hour by road
Alishan	1	Forest railway, giant cypress trails, sunrise	Via Chiayi; the full railway line takes about 5 hours
Tainan	2	Temples, old streets, Anping Fort, street food	Train or road from Chiayi
Kaohsiung	1	Harbour, Lotus Pond, then the high-speed train north for the flight home	Short ride from Tainan

Taipei and Jiufen

Taipei is a good first stop because the metro is easy to read and many signs are in English. Start at Longshan Temple in Wanhua, an old temple district with food stalls close by. Spend one day at the National Palace Museum and one in the old streets of Dadaocheng. Raohe is one of the better night markets for a first visit, and a local food guide can take you to the stalls that have queues for a reason.

Jiufen is a hillside town above the northeast coast that grew around gold mining. It’s roughly an hour from Taipei and works as a half-day trip. Go on a weekday morning, before the tour buses arrive. More on our Jiufen page.

Sun Moon Lake and Alishan

Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s largest natural lake and a slow place by design. Hire an e-bike for part of the shore path, take a boat in the morning when there’s mist on the water, and spend the second day doing very little. Two nights is about right. See our Sun Moon Lake page.

Alishan is a mountain area east of Chiayi with cypress forest and a well-known sunrise. The Alishan Forest Railway reopened along its full length from Chiayi on 6 July 2024, after about 15 years of partial closure following typhoon damage. The line is about 72 km and the ride takes about five hours. Seats go quickly, so book as soon as tickets open. Our Alishan page has the details.

Tainan and Kaohsiung

Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan, with old temples and streets close together. Plan on walking, eating and not much else. Kaohsiung is a port city with a lively waterfront, and the high-speed train from Taipei reaches Zuoying station in about 1 hour 34 minutes on the fastest services, which makes the ride back north for your flight painless. Our pages cover Tainan and Kaohsiung.

Taroko Gorge

Taroko is on many wish lists, but the April 2024 earthquake changed access. As of October 2026 the main road through the gorge runs under traffic control and several trails, including Swallow Grotto, are closed. If Taroko is a priority, add a night in Hualien and check the park’s notice the day before. Our Taroko National Park page keeps the current status.

Booking a Taiwan holiday with us

We run private tours, so the route above can be shortened, stretched or reshaped around your dates. Start from our Best of Taiwan tour or browse all Taiwan tours, then send us your dates and we’ll reply with a plan and a quote. Couples can also read our Taiwan honeymoon guide, and anyone planning a top-end trip our luxury Taiwan guide.

Sources: GOV.UK, Taiwan travel advice: entry requirements and warnings and insurance (updated 28 August 2026); National Immigration Agency of Taiwan, TWAC announcement of 15 July 2026; UAnalyze and 1111 News on Tourism Administration arrivals for 2025; Wikipedia on time in Taiwan, mains electricity, the Alishan Forest Railway, Sun Moon Lake and Jiufen; Highway Bureau and Hualien reports on Taroko access (October 2026). Last checked 7 November 2026. Flight times and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and GOV.UK before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Do British citizens need a visa for Taiwan?

No, not for up to 90 days as a tourist, to visit family or friends, or for business meetings and cultural or sports events. You can extend by a further 90 days once you’re in Taiwan. Your passport must expire at least six months after the day you arrive.

Is there a direct flight from the UK to Taiwan?

Yes. China Airlines flies nonstop between London Heathrow and Taipei Taoyuan, scheduled at about 13 hours 40 minutes from London. Other airlines connect in one stop. Check the current timetable before booking.

How many days do you need for a Taiwan holiday?

Nine nights in Taiwan covers Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Tainan and Kaohsiung. Seven nights works if you drop Kaohsiung and shorten Tainan.

What is the best time to visit Taiwan from the UK?

October and November, then March to May. Typhoons are most active from July to September, and GOV.UK advises building flexibility into your plans in that season.

What is the Taiwan Arrival Card?

It’s a free online form every foreign visitor completes before immigration. Since 15 July 2026 you can submit it up to seven days before you arrive, at twac.immigration.gov.tw.

What is the time difference between the UK and Taiwan?

Taiwan is on UTC+8 all year and doesn’t change its clocks. It’s 8 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 7 hours ahead in summer.

Can I bring food into Taiwan from the UK?

Not meat or other animal products without authorisation. GOV.UK warns that a heavy fine is possible, and customs have stepped up inspections.

Are there British consular services in Taiwan?

Support is limited because the UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The British Office in Taipei is the point of contact, and GOV.UK advises you to take out travel insurance that covers your itinerary.