Taiwan vs Thailand: Which is Better To Visit In 2024?
Both Taiwan and Thailand are amazing countries to visit. They’re so similar yet so different so it can be hard to choose which one to go to.
Taiwan vs Thailand? What started as a joke amongst travellers confusing the two countries, has quickly become one of the biggest questions when choosing where to travel to in Asia.
Luckily for you, I have weighed up every possible angle when considering which country to go to, spoiler alert: it’s a tricky choice!
Taiwan vs Thailand: The Basics
As I said, it’s a pretty tough decision choosing between Taiwan vs Thailand. There’s no obvious winner without delving deep into every category! In this extensive guide, it’s important we start with the basics. So who wins out of Costs, Culture, Weather and Food? They’re 4 of the things that matter most, right?
After assessing the pros and cons,
I will declare a winner of each category!
Costs & Prices
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Taiwan is an odd country to judge the price on. It’s definitely a cheap country to visit. Your prices will be a lot cheaper than at home, assuming you come from a country like the US or the UK.
Taiwan uses New Taiwan dollars. As of January 2024, $1 USD will get you roughly 31 TWD.
However, compared to other parts of Asia, it’s definitely a tiny bit more expensive. So as I say, it’s definitely a cheap country to visit compared to globally, but not the cheapest country compared to its neighbours.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand is notoriously cheap. There’s a reason that backpacking Thailand is so popular- it’s cheap as chips! That being said, it is on the rise as the country grows in tourism outside of the backpacking network.
Thailand uses the Thai Baht. As of January 2024, $1 USD will get you roughly 34 THB.
So although it’s cheap overall, there are certainly some things that are beginning to cost more in recent years. For example, hostels that cost $1 a night before the pandemic, now charge $5 a night. Although this new price is still VERY cheap, it shows how prices are rising.
Below is a table comparing how much you can expect to pay for things in Taiwan vs Thailand.
| Charge | Taiwan | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | $10-20 | $5-10 |
| Hotel room | $100+ | $50+ |
| Street food | $7-8 | $2-3 |
| Decent Restaurant | $20 | $15 |
| Alcohol (one beer) | $2 | $1 |
I think the price of one beer really sums up the price debate between Taiwan and Thailand. Both are incredibly cheap compared to home, but there’s a clear winner between the two.
Winner – Costs & Prices: Thailand 🇹🇭
Language & Culture
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Taiwan’s culture is extremely unique. Taiwanese culture has changed numerous times in the last few hundred years as Taiwan was colonized repeatedly. But in the modern world, it’s probably closest to that of China. Taiwan uses Traditional Chinese characters to write after all.
The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese.
However, there are a lot of aspects which originate in Japan too. This makes sense giving the country is sandwiched between the two. In fact, it’s been proposed that Taiwan’s multiculturalism has allowed Taiwan to create the culture that it has today, including everyone and excluding no one.
The most popular religions in Taiwan are Buddhism and Taoism. Most of the temples you will see will be Buddhist. Some Taiwanese traditions include Tomb Sweeping Day (4 April 2024) where they worship and honour the dead and Taiwan’s Lantern Festival (24 February 2024) where, you guessed it, they release lanterns, which marks the end of Lunar New Year celebrations across the country.
If you are visiting Taiwan, do not expect everyone to speak English. It is not as popular tourist-wise, and not everyone can speak English. Of course, you will likely always find someone who can speak English, but don’t expect it from every Taiwanese person you speak to. It’s worthwhile to learn some basics like “hello”, “do you speak English?” etc.
3 fun facts about Taiwan’s language and culture:
–> Everyone older than you is referred to as uncle, aunt, big brother, big sister, grandma or grandpa
–> Every July, Ghost Month, ghosts come to Earth and people must be careful of them
–> Shoes are not allowed in the house whatsoever
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand’s culture is mainly influenced by India and China. However, the main influence on the culture of Thailand is the country’s largest religion: Buddhism. Most traditions in Thailand are a result of the Buddhist faith.
Similar to the UK, Thailand has a Royal Family, which the Thai people adore. Family is central to life in the Kingdom of Thailand. The core beliefs are respect, self-control and having a non-confrontational attitude. This explains why Thai people always have a smile on their faces! Hence the term, the land of smiles.
The official language of Thailand is Thai.
English is more widely spoken in Thailand than in Taiwan. Especially in the likes of Bangkok, Krabi and other touristy areas. Although as always, it’s smart (and not to mention kind and respectful) to learn some basics in Thai like “hello”, “thank you” and “goodbye”.
3 fun facts about Thailand’s language and culture:
–> The Thai language has 76 letters
–> The world’s largest solid gold Buddha is in Thailand
–> Thais show respect by bowing their head with their palms together
It’s hard to choose between the two. Both are incredible and definitely worth visiting both countries in your life to see their cultures. It’s impossible to choose an outright winner for language and culture.
Winner – Language & Culture: Both 🇹🇼 🇹🇭
Weather
🇹🇼 Taiwan
When people imagine the weather in Asia, they generally imagine it being warm most of the time. Taiwan is pretty accurate in this respect. Although Taiwan does experience seasons and obviously temperatures vary throughout the year, you’ll most likely be warmer in Taiwan than at home, no matter what time of year!
As a country with a subtropical climate, Taiwan experiences very long summers from April until September. And on the flip side, Winters are very short.
The best time to visit Taiwan is between September and November, it’s still warm but a lot more bearable for doing things. No one wants to hike in July in 30°C heat! So the time of year you are visiting may affect your decision on this one.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Similarly, Thailand is pretty consistently hot all year round. There’s definitely no chance of it snowing in Thailand, that’s for sure. Again, temperatures vart but even in the Winter, it’s a lot warmer in Thailand than in the US for example.
Thailand experiences monsoon season between May and October meaning there is a lot more rain and flooding. So if you can, avoid coming to Thailand during this time. Or if you do, make sure you have your expectations in line with what it will be like.
The best time to visit Thailand is between November and March for the same reasons as above. The temperatures are more bearable. So if you are going away for a Summer holiday between June and September, make sure you understand the climate you are heading to.
Below is a table showing the average temperatures for Taiwan and Thailand across the year.
| Month | Taiwan Average Daily Temperature | Thailand Average Daily Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C / 61°F | 27°C / 80°F |
| February | 16°C / 61°F | 28°C / 82°F |
| March | 18°C / 64°F | 30°C / 85°F |
| April | 22°C / 71°F | 31°C / 87°F |
| May | 24°C / 74°F | 30°C / 86°F |
| June | 27°C / 81°F | 30°C / 85°F |
| July | 30°C / 85°F | 30°C / 85°F |
| August | 29°C / 84°F | 30°C / 85°F |
| September | 27°C / 81°F | 29°C / 83°F |
| October | 24°C / 75°F | 29°C / 83°F |
| November | 21°C / 70°F | 28°C / 82°F |
| December | 18°C / 64°F | 26°C / 79°F |
Unlike in Singapore vs Malaysia weather comparisons, there are differences between the two countries. As was the case with the cost, both are great options compared to staying at home. But if you like a bit of heat, there’s once again a clear winner.
Winner – Weather: Thailand 🇹🇭
Food
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Taiwan is an extraordinary country when it comes to food. It’s definitely up there as some of the best in the world. The food in Taiwan is, like their culture, similar to China and Japan.
Their food is pretty spicy, like most Asian countries. Street food is also pretty big in Taiwan. Street food is a great way to taste the most authentic forms of food and it’s also a lot cheaper too! (see cost table above)
The food options consist of lots of broths, seafood and noodles. Some popular dishes you might eat while visiting Taiwan include:
- Beef noodle soup – the most popular dish in Taiwan, often regarded as its national food
- Soup dumplings – told you the cuisine was influenced by China!
- Bao buns – steamed buns filled with meat
- Minced Pork Rice – you get what it says on the tin
- Intestine and Oyster Vermicelli – one of Taiwan’s most famous dishes
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thai food is definitely a lot more famous than Taiwanese. You can bet that your local town or city has at least one Thai restaurant. And for good reason, the food is delicious! It’s also quite spicy believe it or not!
Thai cuisine is so unique and there are an array of dishes almost exclusive to the country. Coconut curry and Fish curry to name a few. Unfortunately, Steph Curry is not a third option!
The type of food you can expect is similar to other parts of Asia: noodles, rice, skewers etc. But of course, with a unique Thai twist. Some popular dishes you will almost certainly encounter in Thailand include:
- Pad Thai – of course!
- Tom yum goong – known in the Western world as Spicy shrimp soup
- Khao pad – aka fried rice
- Green chicken curry – cooked using green chillies
- Red curry – who doesn’t love a bit of red curry?!
Although another very close contest, I have to give the edge to Thailand. Taiwanese food is brilliant, but Thai food is simply next level.
Winner- Food: Thailand 🇹🇭
Taiwan: Top 5 Things To Do
When choosing between Taiwan or Thailand, it’s important to consider some of the things there are to do in each country. I’ll start with Taiwan. As you will see, it’s a pretty outdoorsy kind of country. There are so many things to do but here are just 5 of them!
1. Explore Taroko National Park
Taroko National Park is one of nine Taiwanese national parks. In the northeast of Taiwan, it’s definitely one of the best things to do here. Famous for its unearth-like mountains and marble canyons, it’s a staggering piece of landscape. Take a look for yourself…
✅ Interested in visiting Taroko National Park? It’s one of the most unique National Parks in the world! Book a tour today by clicking here!
2. Visit plenty of temples
There are so many temples to find in Taiwan. From Tianhou Temple to Longshan Temple and everything in between, there are so many great options. A personal favourite of mine is Sanfeng Temple in Kaohsiung, the lanterns that you can walk under are so unique.
Remember to always be respectful when visiting these temples and always dress appropriately (usually cover your shoulders and knees as a general rule of thumb).
3. Venture through Taiwan’s Volcanos
Yangmingshan National Park is home to an abundance of volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs and other volcanic sights. It’s a great day out. It’s always a fun experience getting close to nature and the earth’s core (quite literally) when walking through areas like this. It’s one of the most unique parts of Taiwan, that’s for sure.
✅ Interested in climbing volcanos? There are lots of great options for tours of Yangmingshan! Book today by clicking here!
4. See Taipei from above
Elephant Mountain is one of the most famous things about Taiwan. It’s another great hiking option in Taiwan and the view it offers over Taipei is spectacular. Seeing the city from this angle is beautiful. Particularly at sunrise and sunset, it’s literally like looking at a postcard.
✅ Interested in hiking Elephant Mountain? The view is incredible. Worth every penny! Book a hike by clicking here!
5. Feel like you’re on the moon at Yehliu Geopark
Yehliu Geopark is one of the most abnormal structures on our planet. It’s like the moon. Genuinely. It’s such a fascinating place to explore and walk around. If you choose Taiwan, it’s a must-do. Yehliu is one of those places where neither words nor pictures will ever do justice.
✅ Interested in visiting the moon a.k.a. Yehliu Geopark? There are plenty of great tour options! Book today by clicking here!
Thailand: Top 5 Things To Do
As we continue looking into Taiwan vs Thailand, we need to consider things to do in Thailand. Thailand is more commercialised than Taiwan (relatively speaking of course) so you have the opportunity to do more things. Again, Thailand is pretty outdoorsy.
1. Island hop around Southern Thailand
Anyone who has visited Thailand will know how many opportunities there are to island hop. Thailand has over 1400 islands, so as you can imagine, there are quite a few to choose from! The most popular are the Phi Phi Islands (pronounced pee pee) in Krabi. If you have ever seen pictures from Thailand’s islands and thought “wow”, the chances are that they were taken here.
✅ I would recommend the Phi Phi Islands to absolutely anybody! Thankfully, tours make them easy to access. Book today by clicking here!
2. Have an ethical elephant experience
There is great controversy surrounding the exploitation of elephants for tourism in Thailand. Make sure you never ride an elephant and read into it if you are unaware. Thankfully, there are ethical rescue centres out there. The one we recommend is in Phuket and allows the elephants to roam freely across 30 acres. You can tell how much the elephants are loved, the workers are very educational.
✅For an ethical elephant experience, I recommend the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. You can book today by clicking here!
3. Learn to Scuba Dive
Thailand is known for its cheap PADI certificates. You can them for around 50% cheaper than in the US, for the same qualification. Not to mention how amazing the diving and snorkelling spots are in Thailand! It costs around $300 compared to $700 in parts of the US. It’s a whole new world underwater, and a world worth exploring. I did my qualification with Roctopus in Koh Tao.
✅For me, one of the best (and most affordable!) places to learn to Scuba Dive is Koh Tao. The diving spots are insane! Earn your PADI and book today by clicking here!
4. Visit plenty of temples
Like Taiwan, you’re never going to run out of temples to explore in Thailand. There are so many magnificent temples. For example, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Traimit, just to name a few. Again, make sure to be respectful when visiting and abide by the rules and cultural expectations. Taking a temple tour of Bangkok is a must-do when visiting the city.
5. Explore Thailand’s National Parks
Thailand has over 100 national parks and as you can imagine, most of them are breathtaking. Doi Inthanon National Park and Ang Thong National Marine Park are two of my favourites. When exploring Thailand’s national parks, it feels like you are in a fairy tale. They are all so different but all so beautiful.
✅Doi Inthanon offers one of the best views in all of Thailand! Start hiking the trail by booking today by clicking here!
Taiwan vs Thailand: Which is Better for Traveling?
Choosing between Taiwan vs Thailand requires you to dive deep into the specifics of what each country has to offer. 5 main things which you might consider are: hiking, beaches, nightlife, budget and popularity. I’ll put Taiwan and Thailand up against each other in each aspect and see who comes out on top.
Which Has Better Hiking: Taiwan or Thailand?
🇹🇼 Taiwan
As you can see through the top 5 things to do in Taiwan, there are a large number of hiking opportunities in Taiwan. It’s such a mountainous region that it only makes sense that hiking is popular. In fact, it’s so popular in Taiwan that it might as well be a national sport.
Fun fact: There are over 250 peaks standing over 3000 meters (just under 10000 feet) tall.
The national parks arguably make for the best hikes, but even outside of these, there are endless opportunities. Quite literally, there are 841 recognised hiking routes in Taiwan (AllTrails).
Some of the best hikes in Taiwan include:
- Elephant Mountain Trail
- Yushan National Park
- Yangmingshan National Park (hiking through volcanos is epic!)
- Teapot Mountain Trail
- Huangdidian Trail
- Alishan region
🇹🇭 Thailand
Similarly, Thailand is home to a lot of hiking trails. Especially in the north of Thailand where it is more mountainous (compared to the islands of the south).
There are 11622 named mountains in Thailand (PeakVisor) so there are thousands of opportunities to hike.
Some of the best hikes in Thailand include:
- Tiger Cave Temple Hike
- Khao Yai National Park
- Doi Inthanon National Park
- Khao Sok National Park
- Phu Kradueng National Park
Although these hikes are some great examples, hiking isn’t exactly what Thailand is most famous for. Taiwan’s hikes are simply on another level and a huge selling point of why you should visit Taiwan.
In this case, Taiwan sees its first victory in Taiwan vs Thailand.
Winner – Hiking: Taiwan 🇹🇼
Which Has Better Beaches: Taiwan or Thailand?
🇹🇼 Taiwan
As an island, you would expect Taiwan to have some beautiful beaches. This is indeed the case.
The country has 973 miles of coastline, so as you can expect, there are some good ones! The best beaches are generally in northern Taiwan, where the sand is more golden.
Although, as the country is so mountainous, beaches are not the biggest attraction on the island of Taiwan. That being said, here are some great beaches to relax on in Taiwan:
- Kenting National Park
- Qixingtan Beach
- Waiao Beach
- Qianshuiwan
- Baishawan Beach
🇹🇭 Thailand
Beaches are where Thailand gets its reputation. If you think of Thailand, unless you are a backpacker, the chances are high that you think of beaches.
There are an unlimited number of beaches to explore, and 99% of them are unbelievable. It is definitely one of the best places in the world when it comes to beaches. Not to mention the surroundings, especially in Krabi, wow!
Although, some beaches have skewed reputations. It’s not always the case that the most popular beaches are the best. Phuket’s beaches for example, some of them aren’t as great as made out.
Some of the good beaches include:
- Railay beach
- Long beach
- Maya beach
- Maenam Beach
- Phra Nang Cave Beach
While Taiwan’s beaches are decent, this one is a no-brainer. Thailand is famous for beaches for a reason.
Winner – Beaches: Thailand 🇹🇭
Which Has A Better Nightlife: Taiwan or Thailand?
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Unfortunately, Taiwan is not able to put up much competition in this aspect.
If you are interested in nightlife in Taiwan, you’re best to stay in the capital, Taipei. There are plenty of bars and clubs to find. The commercial district in the east of the city pretty much never sleeps.
There are a wide variety of bars and clubs suiting whatever preferences you may have. However, Taiwan is not really able to compete with Thailand’s nightlife.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand is famous for its nightlife and before diving into it, we can basically already hand it the win.
The backpacking community sets the scene for such a vibrant atmosphere. There is constant partying all across Thailand, no more than in Bangkok, party central.
Not to mention The Full Moon Party which happens every month. One of the most famous parties in the world takes place on Thai beaches with thousands in attendance, it’s definitely worth going if you are in Thailand when one is on.
Thailand could win for the Full Moon Parties alone.
Winner – Nightlife: Thailand 🇹🇭
Which Destination Is Better on a Budget?
🇹🇼 Taiwan
This is pretty similar to the cost category near the beginning of this article. On a budget? Taiwan is definitely doable. You can spend roughly $1500 or less here each month. In some cases, this is cheaper than paying the bills at home!
If you stay in hostels, eat street food, and keep activities capped each month, it’s definitely doable to do Taiwan on a budget.
However, if you are only visiting for a week or two and want to see all there is to see, your budget will need to be decently sized.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand is the epitome of budget travel. Backpacking Thailand is one of the most popular things to do as a budget traveller.
You can easily survive here for $1200 a month or less, again by staying in hostels and eating street food.
Thailand is so large that you cannot cover the whole country in a one or two week trip, but if you stay in one region, for example, the southern islands, it is definitely possible to do Thailand on a shoestring budget.
Winner – Budget: Thailand 🇹🇭
Which Is Better for Avoiding Tourists?
Well, this one doesn’t need much of a comparison. Taiwan vs Thailand in terms of tourism is always going to be a one-horse race.
Thailand is an extremely popular travel destination for families, couples and solo travellers. Add in the hundreds if not thousands of backpackers in Thailand, and it becomes a pretty crowded place for tourists. Especially at the most popular destinations during peak times, it can be pretty touristy.
Taiwan on the other hand is not as popular of a destination, although it is growing in popularity.
Therefore, if you are wanting to avoid tourists, Taiwan is the place to go.
Winner – Avoiding Tourists: Taiwan 🇹🇼
Final Thoughts: Taiwan vs Thailand
Well, there you have it, a complete guide to Taiwan vs Thailand.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Costs & Prices | Thailand |
| Language & Culture | Both |
| Weather | Thailand |
| Food | Thailand |
| Hikes | Taiwan |
| Beaches | Thailand |
| Nightlife | Thailand |
| Budget-friendly | Thailand |
| Avoiding Tourists | Taiwan |
Although the results are heavily one-sided in favour of Thailand, I would take this result with a pinch of salt. Even with a score of 7-3, Thailand is not twice as good as Taiwan.
Make sure to consider the aspects that you care about. Are you an outdoor lover? Taiwan might be the option for you. Do you prefer to go off the beaten track? Taiwan might be for you.
Whichever country you choose, both of them will provide an amazing trip for you. If you can, make sure to visit both in your lifetime. They are both worth visiting for sure.
So as I conclude Taiwan vs Thailand, I ask you to make a decision that suits you. Not the decision that others have made for you.
