Taiwan

Country/State Data

Regions

1

Breaks

16

Coastline

1,566 KM

Cost of living

Capital

Taipei

Current Time

Security

Medical

families beginners
Positives
  • SE typhoon & NE monsoon swells
  • Large tropical island
  • Powerful beachbreaks & left points
  • Cheap, easy access from Asia Beautiful east coast
Negatives
  • No world-class breaks
  • Suffocating summer heat
  • Densely populated Taipei
  • Risk of destructive typhoons

Where to surf in Taiwan

When Portuguese sailors stumbled upon Taiwan in 1547, they named it Ilha Formosa meaning 'Beautiful Island'. Taiwan is only 160km (100mi) from the mainland where the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) have ruled since winning the civil war against the Republic of China (ROC) in 1949. The ROC government withdrew to Taiwan and continue to dispute the political rights of the PRC and maintain some sovereignty over Taiwan and the 90 small islands of Penghu (Pescadores).

Despite the confusing situation, surfing in Taiwan has a long history and surf arrives from a generous 225º swell window hitting all sides of the island. US soldiers were the first to ride the north coast beach of Jin Shan in 1965 and local pioneers like Mao Guh and his brothers ignored the government ban on access to the ocean, to take up surfing and open the first surf shop. With the lifting of Martial Law in 1987, surfing clubs popped up across the island and the R.O.C Surfing Association estimates that there could be 30,000 people riding waves across Taiwan. This is no surprise as the seasonal monsoons bring consistent waist to headhigh waves and a pair of boardshorts will do for all but the depths of winter, making Taiwan an increasingly alluring tropical destination.

Surf spots in Taiwan

Research the 16 surf breaks in Taiwan and discover what spots suit the current conditions.

Break lowdown

We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 16 breaks in Taiwan.

scroll / drag

When to go

Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Taiwan

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

Library

Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Taiwan.

scroll / drag

Travel Information

General
Current Time
Tourists
11,100,000
Population
23,816,775
Tourist Info
Tourist Info

Security

Health

Money
Currency
TWD

Cost of living

Communication
Dialing in
+886
Dialing out
002
Emergencies
112
Language
Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese
Electricity
Plug Type
a
b
Visas

Most nationalities can visit Taiwan visa free for visits up to 90 days.

Getting There

You can fly to Taiwan from almost anywhere and Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) is a good option rather than Taipei (TPE). Airport transfer to Kenting; High Speed Rail connects Taipei with Zuoying, Kaohsiung (90mins, $50e/w). Bus to Kenting (2.5hr, $12e/w).

Getting Around

Once you get out of Taipei or Kaohsiung, traffic is smooth and parking is ok. Get used to lawlessness on the roads! No boards on public buses from Taipei to any surfing beach. Car rentals cost $84/day for a car and $106 for a 9pax van. Motorbike rental from $15/d. Many east coast surfers ride trains. Stay in Kenting, use local transport.

Accommodation

Dorm rooms for $10/night and $20-30 in hotels in off-season, but typhoon season is high summer season. Plenty of 'Surf Houses' in Nanwan, backpacker style ($15). Motels and hotels price range is $45 to $120/p/n. surfingtaiwan.com do premium guided surf trips from Taitung county plus multi-activity and cultural tours (fr $750/p/dbl/6n). Similar deals from surftaiwan.com (fr $949/p/dbl/6n) with east and south coast options. Food is $3-10 per meal.

Activities
cultureoutdoorurbanwatersports

A steep central mountain range means the east coast is much less developed than the overcrowded west coast, which makes Taiwan second only to Bangladesh in population density. Lots of sightseeing near Taipei like museums, temples (Shihtoushan Buddhist) and waterfalls (Wulai). Tamsui Grass skiing resort near Baishawan. Many mountain peaks reach 3000m+, try hiking near Chushan or rafting on Hsiukuluan River (east coast). Kenting National Park protects some beautiful forests.

Hazards & hassles

Waves hardly ever reach dangerous size except during typhoons when all beach activities are banned if a warning has been issued. Some volcanic reefs can be treacherous. Beware of concrete tetrapods! Crowds are increasing near Taipei and Nanwan, riding skills are improving and localism is an issue in places. Big cockroaches and aggressive mosquitoes.

Handy Hints

There's good gear among the dozens of surf shops. Expect $600 for a shortboard and $900 for a longboard. Rentals are $20/d. In Taipei (Johnny Rose, Tube Factory), Yilan (Blue Ocean, Cool), Kenting (Hotel California, Beach House) or Jialeshuei (Pintung), will help find lodgings, tours, school, rentals.

Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.

Travel Gallery
scroll / drag / Click for gallery

Surf Culture

History

The Stormrider Passport

Get your Stormrider Passport to explore 5000 surf spots for as little as £1 a month.

What’s in it for you?
  • 01.
    5,000 DETAILED BREAK REPORTS

    Access to 5,000 detailed surf spot descriptions with ability to save spots for offline access.

  • 02.
    10 STORMRIDER ICONS FOR EVERY SPOT

    Compare our iconic, easily recognisable symbols, highlighting 10 crucial factors for every surf break.

  • 03.
    VIEW 4,000+ PROFESSIONAL SURF PHOTOS

    Feast your eyes on over 4,000 surf shots from professional photographers.

  • 04.
    WINDY FORECAST FOR EVERY BREAK

    Get the latest surf conditions from our forecast partners at Windy, plus webcams and forecasting links.

  • 05.
    COMPARE REGIONAL SURF SPOT DATA

    Compare regional break data and statistics to quickly discover your ideal surf destinations.

  • 06.
    CREATE YOUR PERSONAL WORLD SURF MAP

    Easily build a map of your worldwide surf travel adventures, or create a bucket list of future destinations.

Upcoming Features
  • 01.
    Partnerships

    In the future we will be partnering with the coolest surf content commissioners to bring you some great value deals and collabs.

Stormrider guides have got more in the Pipeline
We've got more in the pipeline

Signing up not only gives you access to the World’s best surf information, it allows us to create even more amazing features in the future.

Never miss an update

Sign up to our newsletter and get a weekly digest