Taiwan and the Philippines
Given their close proximity to each other, we visited these two island nations in a whirlwind two week trip, enjoying street food galore, lush mountains, tea terraces, hot springs, waterfalls and white sand beaches (the list could go on)! Alongside tranquil natural landscapes, both places have bustling cities, with very friendly locals.
We spent 4 days in Taipei doing day trips to different parts of the city. Taipei has both a traditional and modern culture with influences from China and Japan, and the city is vibrant, yet calm compared to other Asian capitals!
The metro system is super easy, safe and comfortable to use. There are over 70 night markets dotted around the city where you can try all kinds of flavours and textures, from dumplings to fried chicken, to peanut butter ice cream rolls and of course, bubble tea!
A short flight from Taipei will take you to Cebu or Manila in the Philippines, the gateway to island life! We flew to Cebu and took a taxi across the mountains to stunning beaches and waterfalls in Moalboal and then a boat over to Bohol, a popular island for locals. There are so many beautiful islands to enjoy in the Philippines; we only scratched the surface.
Here is our 4-day Taipei and 8-day Philippines itinerary to give you a flavour of the destinations. We would love to go back and explore the South of Taiwan and some other islands in the Philippines. Watch this space!
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Read up on Taiwan’s history to help understand the people and culture
Before arriving in Taiwan, fill out your arrival card online - this will save a lot of time at the airport!
Carry cash for the night markets and restaurants in Taiwan and the islands in the Philippines
The islands in the Philippines prefer cash over card, with some places cash only so don’t get caught out! They do have plenty of ATMs but beware of extra charges to withdraw
Uber is available in Taiwan and the Philippines have a taxi app called ‘Grab’ which is easy to download
The easiest and cheapest way to get around Taipei is the MRT, which is super clean and safe. Buy a travel pass for the number of days you are there
Get to the night markets in Taiwan early to avoid long queues!
Buy an e-sim beforehand using Airalo, which will be a lifesaver for maps and taxis when out and about
Most of the drinking water (not the tap) and ice is filtered in both places, but bring a reusable bottle (one that keeps water cool), and buy large 2-litre bottles of mineral water to refill if you are worried
Pack all your medicinal supplies, including Imodium and plenty of bug spray!
Sun loungers on the beach may not be free! You can rent them with umbrellas at most Beach Clubs, and sometimes this cost can be put towards food and drink at their establishment
Double-check what ingredients are in your food choice - both places love meat, especially pork, which may surprisingly be added to dishes you wouldn’t expect!
Taipei - 4 days
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Day 1
Do a free (tip-based) walking tour around the central part of Taipei to get your bearings and learn more about the city’s architecture, culture and history.
Do a spot of shopping in Songshan and treat yourself to a foot massage. Honestly, it was so worth it. Check out Jin Wu Men Kung Fu foot massage chain.
In the evening, head to Elephant Mountain, known locally as Xiangshan (or Mt. Xiang).
Hike to the top for sunset - it’s not a tough walk and takes around half an hour with stunning city views along the way. Just be prepared to climb a lot of steps!
Day 2
In the morning, take the MRT to Tamsui, a harbour area with a long promenade. You can walk or cycle along, sampling snacks and ice creams along the way!
Visit Fisherman’s Wharf and Lover’s Bridge and explore Old Street for traditional shops, food and drink.
In the afternoon, head over to Beitou and walk up to the Thermal Valley, where you can soak up the mist and steam from the hot springs.
There are public hot springs you can swim in, or opt for a Hotel experience where you get a room for 1 hour with a hot bath filled from the thermal springs. Depending on the price, you can get a view over the valley; it’s a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
As the public hot springs were closed, we booked 1 hour at the Beitou hot springs resort, which was lovely.
In the evening, head to one of the many night markets!
Day 3
We took the bus to Jiufen - it’s very touristy and not much to do there, we only went because it’s the gateway to the hike up Teapot Mountain. It’s a great trail, with stunning views all the way up. Be prepared for some steep inclines and steps, and there is a rocky part at the top which you have to scramble over. Overall, it takes 2.5 hours.
An alternative day trip would be to Shifen and Houtong on the scenic Pingxi railway Line. If it’s your thing, you could get off at Houtong cat village, famous for the number of furry friends!
Shifen is famous for releasing sky lanterns, and there is a walk you can do to the waterfall, which is picturesque.
If you do the Teapot hike early, then get the bus back to Riufang and take the Pingxi line to Shifen.
In the evening, head to another night market!
Day 4
Take the MRT to Taipei Zoo station, from there it’s a short walk to the Maokong gondola.
Take the Crystal Cabin (glass bottom) to Maokong; the views are amazing over the tea terraces. You can get off at different stops, such as the zoo or Temples or go straight to the top.
You can wander along and take in the incredible views. There are lots of lovely teahouses to visit - we went to Longmen Restaurant (not cheap) but had nice panoramic views.
The gondola is quite long, so this trip can easily take a few hours - head back down for some last-minute shopping or relaxation.
We booked into Hama Hair Spa (again, not cheap), but it was a super relaxing treat and a bit different as they give you a deep hair condition and a head massage.
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Head to the night markets for a true taste of Taiwanese food and culture.
Night markets (there are plenty more)!
Rahoe night market
Shilin night (the biggest in Taipei)
Nanjichang night market
Keelung night market
Dishes worth a try:
Fried chicken
Clay oven rolls
Pork pepper buns
Grilled corn
Steamed dumplings
Boiled chicken and rice
Peanut ice cream roll
A range of exotic flavours of Bubble Tea!
Other restaurants
Weekend Chicken is a great place if you like fried chicken and want to try traditional Taiwanese style.
Din Tai Fung is a famous dumpling place. Ensure you book in advance, or get there early to get a ticket for the table and come back
Try beef noodle soup, a famous dish in Taipei.
Try a local breakfast. Sihai soy milk has a variety of traditional Taiwanese breakfast dishes (cash only). Definitely try the peanut milk and rice milk!
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Taipei has a really good metro system (MRT) and also bus system, which makes it easy and safe to get around the city for day trips.
You can buy a multi-day travel card, which is worth it if you're staying a few days.
We stayed at Star Hostel, Taipei Main Station, which was a perfect location. It was very clean and a chilled vibe, with amazing Taiwanese breakfasts every day!
Moalboal - 4 days
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From Cebu, take a 3-hour transfer to Moalboal, a laid-back coastal town. We pre-booked the transfer with our resort, which I’d recommend over hailing a local taxi, just due to the journey length.
3-4 days is a good length of time to relax on the beach and do some local activities in the surrounding areas.
Head to Pangasama beach to do the sardine run, a really cool experience of swimming with a swirling school of sardines. It’s a 20 metre swim out, and morning is the best for visibility. You can do this yourself if you’re a confident swimmer; all you’ll need is a snorkel, which you can rent or buy in one of the many shops in the town, or ask your resort for the gear.
If you are staying in the main town, take a tricycle to White Beach (around 300 pesos), a stretch of white sand with azure blue water. Just be aware, there are not many facilities or restaurants there and a lot of stray dogs (they seemed harmless)!
If you’re a thrill seeker, book onto a canyoneering or ziplining tour at Kawasan Falls, where you can swim, climb and jump in the water. You can book this locally or at your resort. There are plenty of tour companies running the same type of trip.
If you want to try an alternative to scuba diving, give freediving a try! We did a one-day freediving course with Freediving Planet, which was great fun!
It’s a full day with a session in the pool and then into the sea, to dive down without a snorkel or oxygen tank. It’s not cheap, but a great experience and new skill to learn - you get a level one free diving certification after passing the assessment.
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There are lots of great cafes and restaurants in Moalboal town, with plenty of fresh fruit smoothie bowls, vegetables and fish!
For brunch/lunch, try West Cafe, Smooth Cafe or Shaka Cafe
For traditional Filipino food, try Ven’z Kitchen. Try the famous tortang talong, an aubergine dish.
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There are plenty of accommodation options for all budgets.
We stayed at mid-range Parrot Resort, which was lovely and in a good central location. The staff were very friendly and helpful.
Moalboal is very walkable from the town to Pangsama beach, or you can take tricycles for a reasonable price to the surrounding areas.
Pre-arrange taxis to take you to your next destination; these can easily be booked with your accommodation.
Bohol - 4 days
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We took a taxi over the mountains to Oslob ferry port to catch the ferry to Bohol.
Ensure you pre-book this online, with 12go, as the ferries do get busy and there is only one per day.
Bohol is a popular island for local tourists and feels more westernised, which does mean there are plenty of Hotels, beach bars, restaurants and activities.
It was a place we went to relax at the end of our trip. Here are some of the highlights:
Book a driver (or hire a moped if you’re feeling brave) to visit places like:
The Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary (not the conservation area, which has been criticised for poor animal welfare). The tarsiers are super cute, and it’s a cool experience to walk around spotting them.
The Loboc River for a lunch cruise
The Chocolate Hills - climb up for a unique view
For the adrenaline junkies, do a zipline at the adventure park
Visit the Hinagdanan Cave for swimming in crystal clear water
Visit Bohol Bee Farm for local produce
Hire a boat to take you island hopping for the day. These mostly depart from Panglao and take you to white sand beaches such as Balicasag Island.
Book a day pass at a fancy Hotel for a day of relaxing by the pool and private beach.
You get use of the facilities, a sunbed, and the beach, along with lunch. We did Bohol Beach Club and Oceania Resort, which were a little slice of luxury at the end of the trip.
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In the Alona Beach area, there are plenty of restaurants, but you might have to take a tricycle a bit further out for some nicer places to eat.
For breakfast/brunch (think fresh fruit smoothie bowls), head to Overgrown Cafe, or Kamaya Restaurant and Cafe
For a local fried chicken fast food experience, grab a bite at Jollibee
For Korean Fusion, head to Barwoo - amazing mango chicken wings!
For pizza and pasta, try Toto e Peppino
For Spanish food, try Bougainvillaea
Head to Wonderland Thai
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There are plenty of accommodation options for all budgets. We stayed in Alona Beach for easy access to activities and amenities, but the beach itself is not the nicest!
We stayed at Pyramid Beach Resort, which was mid-range in a good location. It’s set back from the beach and could be a little noisy in the evenings - be prepared for a lot of mosquitoes by the pool! The staff were friendly, and overall we enjoyed our stay there.
Transport is mainly tricycles and taxis, and you can also hire a moped for a day if you’re feeling brave!
We flew home to London from Panglao International Airport, via Manila. Don’t spend longer than you need to in Manila!