This is an overview of everything you should know when visiting Taiwan.
I’ve lived in Taiwan for more than 5 years and want to help you have an optimal experience when traveling. It’s taken me a while to try and create a “perfect” guide. I hope some of the information that I provide will help convince you to travel here.
Important Information
| Vaping | Illegal |
| Travel Restrictions | None |
| Plug Outlets | 110V supply voltage and 60Hz |
| Required Documents | None (varies by country) |
| Emergency Numbers | 110 (police) |
| 119 (ambulance & fire) | |
| Primary Language | Mandarin Chinese |
| Time Zone | Taiwan Standard Time (TST), which is GMT +8 |
| Currency | New Taiwan dollar / NT$ / 元 / $ |
| Price of Bottled Water | NT$35 (1.5 liter bottle) |
| How Much Time Should I Spend in Taiwan? | 8 – 12 days |
| Best Way to Exchange Currency | Bank of Taiwan ATM |
Yes/No Q&A
| Is Tipping Required? | No |
| Solo Travel(able)? | Yes |
| Is Taiwan Allowing Tourists? | Yes |
| Should I Carry My Passport in Taiwan? | Yes |
| Do I Need an Invitation Letter to Visit Taiwan? | Yes, when traveling for business |
| Does Taiwan Use ASL? | No, they use Taiwan Sign Language (TSL) |
| Do You Need Travel Insurance? | No, but it’s recommended |
Health-Related Information
| Vaccines Required | None |
| Suggested Vaccines | Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, Typhoid, and Hepatitis (A and B) |
| Drinkable Tap Water? | Yes |
| Mask Requirements? | Medical settings & retirement homes |
| Health Advisories | None |
Taiwan Tourist Tax Refund
Taiwan offers tourists and visitors a 5% VAT refund on goods more than NT$2,000. But they’ll charge you a 14% handling fee. If you buy stuff from the shopping center, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, your total purchases must be more than NT$3,000.
To claim your refund, you’ll need:
- Travel documents: plane tickets, etc.
- Entry stamp: for those who entered without a visa
- Passport of your home country
- Visa: if that’s how you entered Taiwan
And goods that aren’t refundable include duty-free items, hotel stays, restaurant bills, and items that you can’t take on planes.
I’ve covered shopping centers and buildings where tourists can claim tax refunds in a separate guide. It would take me too long to explain them here.
Where Do You Exchange Currency in Taiwan?
Exchange your country’s currency at the following locations in Taiwan:
- Airports
- ATMs
- Banks
- Friends
- Department stores
- Currency exchange kiosks
ATMs offer some of the best rates. Make sure that your bank will reimburse some or all your fees. Going this route will also save you from waiting at the bank. Furthermore, to avoid an NT$100 fee, use the Bank of Taiwan’s ATMs.
If you want to exchange your money without fees at the best rates, I recommend going to the Bank of Taiwan (government-owned). Before withdrawing, check this bank’s exchange rate for the best conversion rates.
If Taiwanese friends need your currency, look up the going rate and trade your cash. It’s mutually beneficial. Be sure to stay up-to-date with peer-to-peer currency exchange laws.
Taiwan’s department stores also offer currency exchange services. Malls are an excellent alternative to banks because they’re open longer.
Exchanging currency in Taiwan isn’t like in other cities in Asia. The government strictly regulates it. Therefore, you can only exchange money at banks or authorized establishments.
Taiwan has one ATM per 826 residents. That means they have the highest ATM density in the world. Don’t worry; you can’t go far without an ATM nearby to exchange currency.
Formosa Fun fact: If you love crisp bills, withdraw money around the Lunar New Year. You will encounter a pleasant surprise.
Flight Costs
When booking flights, you might see “Taipei Songshan Airport.” I’d love to recommend this airport since it’s in Taipei City (and not Taoyuan), but flights there are often much more expensive. Moreover, it’s mostly Taiwanese airlines (e.g., EVA) that fly there.
It is an international airport, though. Consider this airport if you’re more flexible with your funds and time. It’ll save you time otherwise wasted on going between Taoyuan and Taipei.
And is a roundtrip from the same city or multiple cities better?
From my experience, just flying to and from Taoyuan International Airport was the easiest and cheapest.
Whether you can club other countries with Taiwan.
It’s easy to visit other countries alongside Taiwan. For instance, I’d typically visit:
- Japan: 2 – 3-hour flight
- Philippines: 2 – 3-hour flight
- China: Average time is 3 hours
- Singapore: Around 4.5 hours
- South Korea: 2.5 hours
- Mongolia: Around 4 hours on average
Indonesia and Malaysia are also somewhat closeby, with around 5-hour flights each. Yeah, this sounds long. But it’s better than the 12-hour flights I endure when flying from the US to Taiwan.
Do you need to fill out an arrival card?
Taiwan does require an arrival card. The government has a version of it online that you use. Then once you enter the country, you won’t need to fill out a card.
Unmissable Attractions I’d Revisit a Million Times
While you’re in Taiwan, the things I’d recommend doing most are as follows:
1. Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Kaohsiung
A beautiful monastery that’s pretty easy to get to from the high-speed rail station. It has Asia’s tallest bronze Buddha statue. And Taiwan’s tallest statue. It was worth almost getting a heat stroke over to visit.
2. Taipei 101, Taipei
Taiwan’s tallest building and one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers. It’s affordable for most people to visit the 88th-floor Simple Kaffa (I’ll come back to this place) or the 89th-floor observatory.
If you have more than NT$3,000, see the 101st floor.
3. Yehliu Geopark, New Taipei:
The rock formation known as the Queen’s Head is eroding and may completely vanish. Visit it while you can. The Geopark, in general, is great to explore.
4. Jiufen Old Street, New Taipei
This is my favorite old street in Taiwan. It offers a glimpse into the country’s past, a lot of great food, and is adjacent to the Yin Yang Sea (another beautiful sight).
5. Get coffee at any Simple Kaffa
A third-wave cafe chain opened by an international barista champion with some of the best-tasting coffee I’ve put in my body. They’ve been opening up more locations throughout the country.
6. Eat at Din Tai Fung
It tastes better than Din Tai Fung, which I’ve had in the States. As it’s from Taiwan.
7. Walk around at least one night market
Shilin Night Market (the most famous market) has expensive food that doesn’t taste as good as other night markets. I personally recommend Raohe Night Market in Taipei.
If I had to wipe my memory, move back to the states, and leave a list of destinations to visit with the knowledge I have now for future reference, I’d follow the above. My preferences will differ from yours, but use what I wrote as a reference.
Otherwise, here are other attractions you could see throughout Taiwan’s main cities:
- Taipei
- New Taipei
- Kaohsiung (under construction)
- Taichung
And how about souvenirs?
If you like cologne or perfume, get anything from P.Seven. They have fantastic tea-scented perfumes and colognes. Then I’d recommend limited edition 3D smart cards like EasyCards, iPASS, or iCash 2.0 cards. And then name stamps (chops). They’re what Taiwanese use to add “signatures” to official documents.
I can’t fit all the souvenirs I want to include in this guide. That’s why I separated them into these guides:
- Taiwan souvenirs (in general)
- Supermarket souvenirs
- Food souvenirs
- Don Don Donki (Taiwan)
You also want to know when to see the cherry blossoms/sakura. This is one of my most favorite parts of Taiwan.
And here’s where you can see them:
| Place Name | Time of Year to See | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wuji Tianyuan Temple | Jan – March | New Taipei | Inconvenient to reach |
| Wulai | Hard to get to, but nice tourist spot | ||
| LOHAS Park | Taipei | Recommended spot | |
| Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall | Has Japanese and Taiwanese cherry blossoms | ||
| Yangmingshan National Park | Difficult to reach, but worth the journey | ||
| Magao Ecological Park | Yilan | Hard to reach | |
| Sun Moon Lake | Late Jan – March | Nantou | Great tourist spot |
Hotels in Taiwan
I can’t recommend any specific hotels in Taiwan other than the Humble House in Taipei. My wife and I went there for one of our anniversaries, and it was the best hotel I’ve visited. It has a fantastic view of Taipei 101.
It’s pricey, though.
And whether you’ll pay a lot for a hotel depends on when you visit Taiwan. That’s why I’m just going to throw in this widget for you to play with…
How to Get Around
| Rideshare Apps | Uber & LINE Taxi |
| Tipping Required | No |
| Main Transportation | Motorbike |
| Bike Sharing Program | YouBike |
| Accessible? | Accessible for travelers with disabilities |
| English Availability | Many signs have English translations |
In most cities, here’s how you’ll get around:
- Taiwan High-Speed Rail (HSR): Quick journey to cities on Taiwan’s west coast.
- Taiwan Railway Association (TRA): Inner- and intercity trains that are slower and cheaper than the HSR.
- YouBike: Nationwide bicycle rental program that tourists can use.
- Taxi/rideshare: I recommend these apps:
- Find Taxi (English): Book a taxi ahead of time and know the driver’s ratings (like Uber…)
- 55688 (English): Same as Find Taxi, but with a reward point system.
- Uber: If you have a Taiwanese phone number.
- Bus: Inter- and innercity buses. I recommend downloading the Bus+ app to make navigating easier.
You can rent a car if you have an international driver’s license. For more information, check out my guide on renting one. Many cities in Taiwan require people to have a Taiwanese driver’s license to rent motorbikes.
The following cities will have Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT):
Otherwise, you’ll need to get around other cities with a mixture of buses, YouBike, taxis, and TRA trains
Weather
- TL;DR: March, April, and October are the best months to visit weather-wise.
| Month | Avg. Weather (°F) | Avg. Weather (°C) | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57 – 66.4 °F | 13.9 – 19.1 °C | Most humid months |
| February | 57.6 – 67.3 °F | 14.2 – 19.6 °C | |
| March | 60.4 – 71.8 °F | 15.8 – 22.1 °C | Ideal to visit |
| April | 66.2 – 78.3°F | 19 – 25.7 °C | |
| May | 72.1 – 84.6°F | 22.3 – 29.2°C | |
| June | 76.3 – 89.6 °F | 24.6 – 32 °C | Rainy season |
| July | 79.3 – 93.7°F | 26.3 – 34.3°C | |
| August | 79 – 92.8 °F | 26.1 – 33.8 °C | |
| September | 76.6 – 88°F | 24.8 – 31.1°C | |
| October | 72.1 – 81.5 °F | 22.3 – 27.5 °C | NA |
| November | 66.7 – 75.6 °F | 19.3 – 24.2 °C | Shoulder season |
| December | 60.1 – 69.3 °F | 15.6 – 20.7 °C |
In case the table doesn’t work, and to address other Taiwan weather-related concerns, here are some notes:
- Shoulder season is November and December.
- The rainy season is June – September.
- Typhoon season is June – October.
- Plum rains (downpours) happen in May and June.
- None of the temperatures above account for humidity.
- Taiwan’s average relative humidity can go up to 71.8%.
October is a great month to visit weather-wise (most of the time). I have experienced a few typhoons in early October, though. If you come to Taiwan in autumn, be careful or reconsider hiking.
The breeding season for Asian giant hornets (AKA murder hornets) is in Fall. During this time, they get a lot more aggressive. Don’t wear perfume or cologne to avoid getting their attention if you go hiking. Also, you’ll need to be very careful about where you walk. Because they often have their nests underground.
These critters are extremely dangerous and can send you to the ICU (or kill you) [1].
That’s why I avoid hiking in the Fall.
Number of Daylight Hours
| Month | Average Number of Hours |
|---|---|
| January | 10 |
| February | 11 |
| March | 11 |
| April | 12 |
| May | 13 |
| June | 13 |
| July | 13 |
| August | 12 |
| September | 12 |
| October | 11 |
| November | 10 |
| December | 10.5 |
Visa Requirements
TL;DR:
- United States, Canadian, and Australian citizens: Visa-free entry for up to 90 days
- Singapore and Malaysia citizens: Visa-free entry for up to 30 days
- Philippines: Requires visa and proof of accommodation, sponsor/host’s contact information, and proof of sufficient travel funds.
- Indonesia: Visa required
I won’t post requirements for every country because this information constantly changes. Taiwan has a list of countries with which it has visa-free entry programs. Check it out for the most up-to-date information.
Otherwise, visit this website for other countries to see what type of visas you can get.
Common Tourist Scams & Tourist Traps
Taiwan does not have any tourist scams at the moment.
As for tourist traps, there’s nothing serious. I have heard of people finding incorrect information about the schedules of incoming buses at the “airport” — I imagine Taoyuan since it’s the most popular. From there, the airport insists.
Download the Bus+ app to see accurate bus schedules. That’s a simple solution.
There are also stories of vendors at night markets overcharging a foreigner. For instance, someone charged a foreigner NT$400 for a bag of fruit at Shilin Night Market [2]. That bag of fruit should have cost less than NT$100.
Don’t buy fruit at night markets anyway. That fruit’s been in blazing temperatures all day and probably has had a lot of flies land on them. Get fruit from 7-Eleven, PX Mart, or Carrefour. It’s cheap, still delicious, and safe to eat.
In general, Shilin Night Market is considered the most overpriced night market — according to the locals.
The majority of people will leave you alone if you don’t look Asian. In my more than 5 years here, the only person who approached me was a Mormon from Singapore. And this particular guy who was promoting smoothies by my local MRT station.
If someone does approach you, just keep walking. They won’t follow you.
Women’s Rights & Violent Crime Rates
There’s no dress code for women in Taiwan. For the most part, it’s safe to walk around as a woman at night alone. But you should reconsider, just to be safe.
From February through June of 2023, there were 888 victims of victims of 1,327 sexual harassment cases [3]. I’ve heard stories where some locals were acting creepy toward foreign girls in Taiwan. But that’s the extent of information that I have.
I recommend finding a girl expat in Taiwan. They’ll have the most experience when dealing with the locals. I don’t have any recommendations because I haven’t vetted anyone.
Here’s Taiwan’s safety rate in general 2022 statistics — most recent statistics I could find:
- Violent crimes: 2.14 per 100k people
- Theft / larceny: 161 per 100k people
- Gun-related deaths: 0.21 per 100k people (2019 statistic)
- Murders: 174
- Kidnappings: 1
- Robbery: 96.99
- Aggravated assault: 24
Most violent crimes that I hear of are between gang members, people who owe gangs money, migrant workers, or family members. I never hear of stories where locals murder foreign travelers.
Best Food & Drinks to Try Once
Here’s food I at least recommend trying once (if you can) while in Taiwan:
| English Name | Chinese Name | Description & Some Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Cream Burrito | Huāshēng juǎn bīngqílín (花生捲冰淇淋) | Flour crepe wrapped around cilantro, peanut brittle, and ice cream |
| Taiwanese Hamburger | Gua Bao (刈包) | Tender pork belly, peanut powder, and cilantro packed in lotus leaf bread |
| Scallion Pancake | Cōng Yóubǐng (蔥油餅) | Green onion pancakes |
| Pineapple Cake | Fènglí Sū (鳳梨酥) | Pastry filled with pineapple jam |
| Bubble Tea | Zhēnzhū Nǎichá (珍珠奶茶) | Tapioca pearls mixed with milk (or milk powder) and tea |
| Beef Noodle Soup | Hóngshāo Niúròu Miàn (紅燒牛肉麵) | Braised beef, vegetables, and noodles mixed in beef broth |
| Dumplings | Xiao Long Bao (小籠包) | NA |
| Tea Egg | Chá yè Dàn (茶葉蛋) | Hard boiled egg soaked in tea |
| Coffee | Kāfēi (咖啡) | They have award-winning coffee at Simple Kaffa |
| Stinky Tofu | Chòu Dòufu (臭豆腐) | Fermented tofu served in various ways |
| Oyster Omelet | Hézǐ Jiān (蚵仔煎) | Small oysters mixed with egg batter and sweet-and-sour sauce |
Ice cream burritos are my favorite food in Taiwan and I’ll fight anyone who tries to convince me otherwise (kidding). These are amazing and found at most night markets and old streets.
Gongguan Night Market has the best Taiwanese hamburger.
From my experience, scallion pancakes throughout the country taste the same. Find them at most night markets.
Chun Shui Tang was the birther of bubble tea, but Presotea is my favorite tea. I recommend trying them or COMEBUY for any teas. Their teas taste more refreshing than those from other shops.
Fuhong Beef Noodle Soup in Ximending has some of the best beef noodles. Once you’re done there, get some wasabi-flavored ice cream (or other exciting flavors) from the nearby Snow King.
Get dumplings or Xiao Long Bao (small dumplings) at Din Tai Fung. Duh.
Find NT$10 tea eggs at convenience stores.
You’ll find stinky tofu and oyster omelets at night markets. In my experience, many shops have similar-tasting variations.
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, I can’t help you much here. But I can help guide you in the right direction with my Taiwan starter kit blog post. There aren’t options for Kosher food here, but you will find a fair number of Halal restaurants.
For folks with food allergies…
Most Taiwanese people cannot read Simplified Chinese. Do not use Simplified Chinese characters. Also, consider Hiring someone from Taiwan to make an allergy card with Traditional Chinese characters.
Or Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) has interactive chef card templates. And even if you have this card, ensure you carry an epinephrine auto injector.
A majority of places in Taiwan don’t carry emergency autoinjectors.
If you need such a pen, ask for a “艾筆腎上腺素注射筆” at a pharmacy. They will likely tell you that you need a prescription from a doctor. Find a doctor who will prescribe it to you. From there, you’ll need to pay NT$4,200 – 4,500 (2021 price).
Phrases in Local Language
I don’t recommend speaking Mandarin Chinese to the locals unless you’re living here. They’ll assume that you can speak Mandarin and start speaking full sentences. This happened to me a lot until my wife told me what I was doing.
You will want to understand what the locals are saying, though.
Here are some helpful phrases:
| English Translation | Traditional Chinese Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | 你好 | Nǐ hǎo |
| Thank you | 謝謝 | Xièxiè |
| Excuse me | 不好意思 | Bù hǎoyìsi |
| How much does this cost? | 這個多少錢？ | Zhège duōshǎo qián? |
| Where is the bathroom? | 廁所在哪裡？ | Cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ? |
| I don’t understand | 我聽不懂 | Wǒ tīng bù dǒng |
| Can you help me? | 你可以幫我嗎？ | Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma? |
| I need a doctor | 我需要醫生 | Wǒ xūyào yīshēng |
| Water, please | 請給我水 | Qǐng gěi wǒ shuǐ |
| Where is the train station? | 火車站在哪裡？ | Huǒchē zhàn zài nǎlǐ? |
| Do you speak English? | 你會說英文嗎？ | Nǐ huì shuō yīngwén ma? |
| I am lost | 我迷路了 | Wǒ mílù le |
| Call the police | 叫警察 | Jiào jǐngchá |
| I would like this one | 我要這個 | Wǒ yào zhège |
| Do you have Wi-Fi? | 有Wi-Fi嗎？ | Yǒu Wi-Fi ma? |
| I am allergic to… | 我對…過敏 | Wǒ duì… guòmǐn |
| Can I have the menu? | 可以給我菜單嗎？ | Kěyǐ gěi wǒ càidān ma? |
| Membership | 會員 | Huìyuán |
| Receipt lottery barcode | 載具 | Zàijù |
| I don’t understand Mandarin | 我聽不懂中文 | Wǒ tīng bù dǒng zhōngwén |
If you have allergies, carry a chef card that’s translated to traditional Chinese characters.
If you don’t look Asian, most Taiwanese people will try to speak English to you. If they know how to speak it. Otherwise, they’ll speak Mandarin. Just pull out Google Translate and type what you want to say. You could also use the real-time conversation translation feature.
Google Translate works fairly well. I explain more about what works and what doesn’t in a separate guide. If you have a paid ChatGPT subscription, try the real-time translation feature using ChatGPT’s voice.
Most stores you go to, people will ask you if you have a membership or receipt barcode lottery. Just say “沒有 / méiyǒu.” The staff won’t care enough to say anything else.
You will likely use “excuse me” often when people block your way in public transportation.
Average Price for Hospital & Clinic Visits Without Health Insurance
- Ambulance (and Fire) Phone Number: 119
All hospitals, clinics, and other places will charge varying rates for care. I’ll do my best to provide worst-case estimates to help you prepare.
Hospitalization fees (checkup, treatment, surgery, and handling) for some hospitals (like MacKay) charge up to NT$9,130 for ICU care.
Places like the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) will charge NT$300+ for an ER registration fee. This doesn’t include other expenses.
The Taipei Veterans General Hospital charges NT$500 for registration, NT$1,500 for consultation, and NT$2,000 for “special outpatient service fees.” Then, they’ll charge NT$5,000 for inpatient services.
If you need to go to the hospital for a non-emergency, how you’ll schedule an appointment varies by hospital. Many hospitals allow you to book an appointment online, though this hasn’t worked for me with many hospitals.
You could also go in person and schedule an appointment or call. I’m sure they’ll search for someone who knows English if you speak English. That’s what happens to me.
I typically pay NT$200 for a local clinic visit. If I remember correctly, I paid around NT$300 – 500 for a sports clinic visit and cortisone shot when I was uninsured. I didn’t receive additional medication, though.
Most of these clinics are walk-ins. You could call them or schedule an appointment through LINE, which requires Mandarin Chinese knowledge.
Factors that will determine costs include:
- Whether you have a referral letter
- Is it a university hospital?
- Whether it’s a local visit
- Hospital stay versus ICU
I’d say around 80% of doctors I’ve talked to throughout Taipei, New Taipei, and Taichung spoke English and didn’t require a translator. The biggest issue you’ll likely run into is communicating with the hospital staff (outside the doctor’s office).
Pros & Cons of Visiting Taiwan
Pros:
- Affordable healthcare
- Amazing public transportation
- Pretty English-speaker-friendly
- Very low crime rate
- The locals are happy and friendly
- Diverse and interesting wildlife
- Quick to fly to other countries in Asia
- A lot of affordable street food
Cons:
- Earthquakes occur frequently
- Heat and humidity
- Almost no public transportation outside Taipei, New Taipei, and Kaohsiung
- Lack of consistent sidewalks and sidewalks in general
- Ridiculous YouBike rules in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan due to lack of bicycle lanes
- Murder hornets
- Air pollution in urban areas
- Limited food options
28.6% of the country speaks basic English [4]. Meanwhile, 10% of folks speak it with a “high degree of proficiency,” and 3% are highly fluent. My luck hasn’t been that good. Or I’ve just encountered a lot of folks who don’t want to speak English.
You’ll be OK with Google Translate. Even if you know some Mandarin, you’ll typically run into old people who speak Taiwanese Hokkien or Hakka. This adds a layer of confusion.
The language barrier is an obvious con. But I’ve had a better experience finding English speakers here than in Japan.
A lot of areas in Taiwan don’t have sidewalks and require you to share the road (as a pedestrian) with drivers. So long as you keep your head on a swivel, you should be safe. If you have kids with you, use a Google Maps street view around the areas you want to visit. To know whether they have sidewalks.
Taipei will have sidewalks in all of its major tourist hotspots. So long as you keep around these areas, you’ll be on sidewalks. Though, motorbike drivers often will drive on the sidewalk, which is really annoying.
Air pollution is pretty bad in the cities, especially Tainan. It’s hot and humid (duh). And the country has frequent earthquakes.
Here’s what the Taiwanese government recommends doing during an earthquake. I duck and cover. Meanwhile, while I’m in supermarkets or MRTs (subways), I pray that an earthquake doesn’t happen. Taiwan’s infrastructure does an amazing job at handling earthquakes, though.
Despite a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in 2024, only a couple of buildings collapsed.
Sources
- Taiwan News, Asian hornets swarm hikers
- Taiwan News, 2019, Foreigner charged NT$400 for bag of fruit
- American Institute in Taiwan, 2023, Taiwan 2023 Human Rights Report
- The History of English, How many people in Taiwan speak English
