Visit Taipei!
When to visit: March-May and December for warmer weather with low humidity – great for sightseeing!
Great for: Adventurous city and culture lovers.
With vibrant cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul getting busier by the day, it’s time for something different. Enter in, Taipei.
Known for its stunning architecture, Taiwan offers incredible sights for culture-lovers such as the masterful Lukang Longshan Temple and the 52-acre Fo Guang Shan Monastery (just a few hours from Taipei). In Taipei itself, dive into the city’s delightful, busy Night Markets (there are 10 to choose from!) and try local delicacies like black pepper buns from Raohe Night Market or the biscuit crepe wraps and herbal pork ribs from Nanjichang Night Market.
See the seamless blend of modernity and tradition with ancient temples like the Baoan Temple next to 21st century wonders like Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings. For a day trip, relax
in the hot springs of Beitou, Taiwan’s hot spring capital, or travel on a Maokong Gondola to Maokong and savour world-famous Tie Guan Yin tea.
Try Santiago de Chile!
When to visit: Pleasant all year round due to being mostly dry, September crowds are smaller and the days warmer after Chile’s cooler winter between June-August.
Great for: Foodies, culture-afficionados, lovers of eclectic cities.
One of the only cities in the world where travellers can be skiing in the Andes (popular resorts include Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado/Farellones) and then surfing in the Pacific Ocean at Viña del Mar, the most popular beach just over an hour outside of the city, Santiago de Chile, the cosmopolitan Chilean capital with top-class cuisine, architecture, dynamic scenery and history.
For foodies, a stop to the bustling Mercado Central should be first, as the city’s foremost food market, as are the restaurants, cafes or beer halls of Barrios Brasil or Bellavista. Marvel at the iconic Cerro San Cristobal statue (the Virgin Mary), one of the city’s most-loved sights, in the Parque Metropolitano. Visit the former home of world-famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona, and take a cable car up to San Cristóbal Hill, nicknamed ‘Island Hill’, to gather inspiration of your own from its breathtaking views! Outside of the city, venture into some of Chile’s best wine regions like Santa Rita, just 45 minutes from Santiago, or the more popular Maipo Valley for delicious Chilean wine.
Top tip: Chilean cuisine is up there with the best, so make sure to sample traditional dishes like seafood empanadas; congrio (conger eel) is also a national dish!
Did you know...
Taiwan’s residents are notoriously friendly, and Taipei is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in Asia, so nicknamed ‘the San Francisco of the East’!