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Wang'an beach, PenghuPoohoya, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Taiwan

Three spots, one archipelago: Penghu, low and windswept in the strait between Taiwan and China, switches on when the northeast winter monsoon locks in from October to March.

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Longmen turns into a wave spot once wind tops 30 knots, Baikeng has hosted regattas in 35-40 knot wind, and Linto works instead as a summer hydrofoil venue once the monsoon drops off. It's a strong-wind destination built for confident riders, not a beginner lagoon trip.

Seasonevery monthsomewhere in the country
How we count
Beginners
where a spot record says a beginner can ride; the Beginners page also asks for a school there, so it lists fewer

When to go

month by month, from the towns' own wind series

  1. Jan, no figure—
  2. Feb, no figure—
  3. Mar, no figure—
  4. Apr, no figure—
  5. May, no figure—
  6. Jun, no figure—
  7. Jul, no figure—
  8. Aug, no figure—
  9. Sep, no figure—
  10. Oct, no figure—
  11. Nov, no figure—
  12. Dec, no figure—

The windiest town in season each month: its share of windy days

Nothing has been measured or modelled for this place: twelve months and no figure in any of them.

Which place is yours

Grouped by region, the most spots first

How this list is ordered

The places are in the order of how many spots each place holds. None of them carries a wind score: the atlas scores wind reliability one spot at a time, against a named weather station and the distance to it, and a place that groups several spots has no single station to stand behind one number.For wind by month, see When to go above.

Penghu Local favourite3 spots · 2 schools · every month 1 h 30 min from the airportchoppy advanced buzzing scene car needed gear rental mid-range

By region

The country's regions, the most spots first

Penghu3 spots · 1 place

Destinations

The one place, by name

Every place in the lists above, by name only, in the order the country guide keeps them.

Penghu

Visa & entry

EU passportVisa-free entry, 90 days, for EU member-state passport holders.
US passportVisa-free entry, 90 days, for US passport holders; passport only needs to be valid for the intended stay (no blanket 6-month rule is stated for US passports).
UK passportVisa-free entry, up to 90 days, extendable by a further 90 days after arrival (max 180 days total).
Entry or eco taxesNone identified.
Digital nomad visaTaiwan has reportedly discussed and piloted digital-nomad-style visa programmes in recent years; unconfirmed, and not to be assumed active.
Tax residency days183 days in a calendar year is the commonly cited threshold for Taiwan tax residency.
NotesTaiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) mandatory since 1 Oct 2025: foreign nationals entering on a visitor visa or under visa exemption (plus HK/Macau multiple-entry and mainland tourist-permit holders, and NWOHR without a Resident Certificate) must complete the free online form at twac.immigration.gov.tw within three days before arrival (NIA, policy year 2025/2026).Resident-visa, ARC and APRC holders are not in the listed categories.Not required to be shown at inspection - the officer's passport scan retrieves it. boca.gov.tw still does not expose full text to automated fetch.

Money

CurrencyTWD (New Taiwan Dollar)
Card acceptanceGood in cities and chain stores; smaller guesthouses/shops on outer islands like Penghu often prefer or require cash.
ATMs and fees7-Eleven and other convenience-store ATMs widely accept foreign Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus cards; no 2026 fee or limit figures are published.
Paying by phoneDomestic mobile-payment apps (e.g., LINE Pay, Taiwan Pay) exist but generally require a local bank account/ID — not practically usable by short-term foreign tourists.
TippingNot customary; many restaurants add a 10% service charge automatically instead.
Cash tipsNot expected; small change rounding is common but not required.

SIM & internet

Operators, best coast coverage first
  • Chunghwa Telecom (broadest coverage, generally best on outer islands like Penghu)
  • Taiwan Mobile
  • FarEasTone
eSIM options
  • Airport tourist SIM/eSIM counters (Chunghwa)
  • Airalo Taiwan eSIM
ID needed for a SIMYes — passport required to register a prepaid SIM.
StarlinkNo general consumer availability is published for Taiwan; the government has reportedly been cautious about Starlink on security grounds.
Notes4G coverage is available virtually everywhere on Penghu's main islands; smaller outlying islets may have weaker coverage.

Insurance

Is kiting covered?Yes, typically — standard travel policies commonly exclude kitesurfing/watersports without an added sports rider.
RecommendedSpecialist travel insurance with a watersports/kitesurfing rider.
Healthcare and evacuationPenghu has local hospitals; serious cases are typically evacuated to the bigger hospitals in Kaohsiung or Tainan on the main island.

Health

VaccinesRoutine vaccines up to date; Hepatitis A and B recommended for unvaccinated travelers; Japanese Encephalitis considered for stays of a month+ or high-risk rural/outdoor activity (CDC, checked 2026).
Mosquito-borne diseasesDengue present in Taiwan, historically concentrated in the south during warmer/wetter months; standard mosquito-bite avoidance advised (CDC).
Tap waterNot typically drunk directly by locals or advised for travelers without boiling/filtering, despite being treated — general precaution recommended.
Emergency numbers119 (ambulance and fire), 110 (police); unconfirmed.
Hospital standardHigh-quality healthcare system nationally; Penghu's own hospital is smaller-scale versus the main island.
Pharmacy notesWidely available in towns; fewer options on smaller outlying islets.

Driving

International driving permitYes. An International Driving Permit is required to rent a scooter/car on Penghu (or a Taiwanese licence), and the IDP must include a Chinese translation of the licence details (2026). This is a commonly-missed practical trap for kite travelers renting scooters.
Road safetyScooter is the dominant way to get around Penghu; scooter accidents are a real risk factor for travelers unfamiliar with local riding conditions.
Rental trapsRental agencies may be lax about checking IDP validity/translation on the spot, but insurance/legal exposure follows the traveler if stopped or in an accident without proper documentation.
4x4 contextsNot generally needed on Penghu's main developed islands.
Police stopsNot a reported problem for tourists.

Regulation

National kite rulesNo dedicated national kitesurfing law is published.
Drone rulesTaiwan operates a real-name drone registration system via the Civil Aeronautics Administration for drones above a weight threshold, with restrictions near military and sensitive installations, relevant given Penghu's military presence.
Protected areasSouth Penghu Marine National Park exists but requires boat tour/charter access for some zones; general coastal snorkeling areas are independently accessible.

Calendar & costs

Holidays that move prices
  • Lunar New Year (dates vary, Jan/Feb) — major domestic travel surge and price spikes, some business closures
  • Summer peak season (Jul-Aug) — Penghu ferry/flight and accommodation prices rise with domestic tourist demand
School holidaysTaiwanese summer school holidays run roughly July to end of August.
CurrencyTWDSee Money
Year2026

Kite bag rules for your airline

Flying into Taiwan

Type the carrier you are flying: what it charges for a kite bag, and the year of the policy that says so.

Checked so far for Taiwan:Uni Air / Mandarin Airlines (domestic routes to Penghu)EVA Air / China Airlines (international)

Every carrier, with limits and what riders report at the counter →

Still being checked

We have not verified these yet — tell us if you know.

Show the 4 open questions
  • Does Taiwan offer a digital nomad visa?
  • Is Starlink available to consumers in Taiwan?
  • Exact drone permit process/restrictions near Penghu military sites not detailed.
  • What do a beer, a meal, a coffee and rent cost in Taiwan?

Last updated September 2026