This piece will provide websites, apps, tips, and general recommendations for anyone visiting Taiwan. Keep reading to learn more.
Various groups of people, whether from different religions or with particular hobbies, may want to visit Taiwan and have a difficult time finding resources. I want to gather all of those resources in one spot.
I’m not an expert in most of these areas, but I will refer you to people who are.
Most travelers will want at least to check out the “Essential Resources” spot.
If you’re from a particular group, have a certain medical condition, or are visiting Taiwan for specific reasons (e.g., birdwatching), use the table of contents to navigate where you need to go.
Common Questions Answered
| Driving Side | Right |
| Plug Types | Types A and B |
| Can You Drink the Tap Water? | Technically, no |
| Official Language/s | Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, 16 indigenous languages. |
| Best Month to Visit | Between September and November |
| Do You Need to Tip? | No |
| How Much Cash to Carry | NT$3,000 (at least) |
| Primary Way to Pay | Cash |
| Currency | New Taiwan Dollar (分, NTW, NT, or $) |
| Can I Enter Taiwan Without a Visa? | Refer to the government’s website |
| Is Airbnb Illegal? | 90% of them are illegal |
| Do I Need to Fill Out an Arrival Card? | Yes |
| Country-Wide Free Wi-Fi | iTaiwan (how to connect) |
Notes:
- Mobile payment methods like Apple pay and LINE Pay have gained popularity over the years. However, many mom-and-pop stores will only accept cash.
- The Airbnb app itself is not illegal. However, as the link above suggests, most of the listings are.
- Taiwan doesn’t have the “City Tier” system like China.
Best Places to Exchange Currency
Banks in Taiwan offer the most favorable exchange rates for foreign currencies, ensuring you get the most New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) for your money.
While ATMs may charge withdrawal fees, they provide the convenience of accessing your funds directly in NTD, often with competitive rates compared to currency exchange services. However, institutions like The Bank of Taiwan, in my experience, offered the best rates without charging extra.
Essential Resources for All Travelers
If you’re planning to use iTaiwan a lot, I definitely recommend checking out Proton VPN. I’ve found it reliable for keeping my data safe on public Wi-Fi.
It’s really fast, so I never have problems with streaming or anything. Plus, they have servers in Taipei, so I’m browsing from home even when I’m out and about. I feel more secure knowing my information is encrypted and no one’s snooping on what I’m doing online.
There’s also Mullvad VPN, but from my experience, it doesn’t work well with streaming apps.
Recommended Guides
| Dress Code | Getting Around | Recommended Souvenirs |
| Do I Need to Know Mandarin? | Packing List | Etiquette |
| Average Travel Costs | YouBike Information | Getting a SIM Card |
| Whether It’s Safe to Visit |
I also HIGHLY recommend learning about all of Taiwan’s transportation cards:
- EasyCard: Most popular.
- iPASS: Decent alternative.
- iCash 2.0: Moreso a souvenir.
- TPASS: Great for regional travel.
Emergency Phone Numbers
| Service | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 110 |
| Fire and Ambulance Services | 119 |
| Repair Services | 112 |
| Time | 117 |
| Weather Forecast | 166 |
| Freeway Condition Information | 168 |
| Center for Disease Control Hotline | 1922 |
| Anti-Fraud Hotline | 165 |
| Coast Guard | 118 |
To reach specific English-speaking police departments throughout Taiwan, you’ll want these numbers:
| City | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Taipei City | (02) 2331-3561 |
| New Taipei City | (02) 8072-5454 |
| Taoyuan | (03) 333-4400 |
| Taichung | (04) 2328-9100 |
| Tainan | (06) 632-2210 |
| Kaohsiung | (07) 212-0800 |
| Hsinchu | (03) 551-1153 |
| Keelung | (02) 2426-8181 |
| Pingtung County | (08) 732-2156 |
Recommended Apps
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| LINE | Most popular messaging app. |
| Google Maps | Navigate the country |
| Google Translate or ChatGPT (or other LLMs) | Translation |
| Pleco | A comprehensive Chinese dictionary app for more in-depth language learning. |
| XE Currency | Currency converting app |
| Bus+ | Help with bus routes and schedules. |
| Taiwan Railways App | Booking and checking train schedules. |
| T Express | Booking Taiwan High-Speed Rail tickets. |
| FindTaxi or 55688 | Find and book taxis. |
| Moovit | Navigating public transportation throughout the country. |
| Strava | Cycling routes. |
Notes and tips:
- Ensure you download the free Cross-Straight Chinese Dictionary on Pleco for terms used in Taiwan. Otherwise, it’ll provide dictionary terms for particular words used in China.
- Taiwan does have Uber, but it doesn’t have Lyft, Grab, or DiDi.
- Yes, Moovit does work in Taiwan.
- Waze is also available in Taiwan, and people have crowdsourced some speed cameras.
- Most people use Google or Apple Maps; thus, crowdsourcing isn’t as prevalent as in the US.
- Ensure you download offline maps for Google Maps.
- XE Currency is one of the few currency conversion apps I’ve found without ads (so far in 2024).
- Google Translate is better for translating images. ChatGPT (free version) is better for translating text if you use the right wording.
- Ensure you use Traditional Chinese characters when using either.
If you need food delivery, you have 3 options:
- Uber Eats: Technically the most popular option.
- FoodPanda: The most popular option, but now Uber Eats owns it.
- Lala Move: It’s an app for general delivery, but you could use it for food delivery.
Recommended Websites (You Don’t Need Apps for These)
- Taiwan Centers for Disease Control: Find updates regarding health events in Taiwan.
- Taiwan Plus: Useful for news and Taiwanese programs.
- Central Weather Administration: Excellent website for weather forecasts, extreme weather warnings, and earthquake alerts.
- Taiwan Tourism Lottery: A chance to win contactless cards with preloaded values (NT$1,000+) or accommodation vouchers when staying in Taiwan for 3 – 90 days.
- You need to register on their website 1 – 7 days before entering Taiwan, which I provided a link to.
- Regulations on drones: Drones are legal, but they have a lot of rules.
Best Websites for Finding Experiences, Tours, & Discounts
- Booking.com: Hotels
- Agoda: Hotels & short-term housing.
- Airbnb: Short-term accommodation.
- A lot of the homes on Airbnb are considered illegal.
- KKday: Offers various tours, activities, and travel experiences for exploring Taiwan.
- KLOOK: Offers a range of travel activities, tours, attractions, and experiences for exploring Taiwan.
- Get Your Guide: A diverse selection of Taiwan tours, activities, and attractions.
Forums & Groups
- Forumosa: Talk to expats, learn where to find particular things, and get earthquake alerts from people posting on the toilet quicker than the government will provide them.
- /r/Taiwan: A subreddit that seems to, for the most part, discuss politics these days. They have a decent amount of helpful tips for expats and travelers.
- /r/NaviTaiwan (private at the moment): Our subreddit that’s a work in progress. It’ll focus on visiting and moving to Taiwan.
- Taiwan (Discord group): Discusses things about Taiwan.
- Foreigners in Taiwan (Facebook group): A decent place to find resources and events in Taiwan. A lot of it is more-so focused toward expats.
- Mobile01: A Chinese-language-only forum to find questions and answers about technology in Taiwan.
- PTT: Taiwan’s version of Reddit, but only in Chinese.
Foodies
Taiwan is a foodie paradise with diverse culinary influences from China, Japan, and its own indigenous traditions.
Night markets and old streets are the best places to try authentic Taiwanese cuisine. Every old street and night market has stands that offer specialties in that area.
It varies by location. Many night markets offer nothing special; they’re just places for locals to get food after a long day of work.
Anyway.
If you’re familiar with bubble tea, it comes from Taiwan. The Chun Shui Tang in Taichung is where you’d want to go to see the birthplace of bubble tea.
I tried it compared to other bubble teas in the country and didn’t care for the taste, but taste is subjective. I recommend visiting regardless.
Din Tai Fung is also from Taiwan, the original location is in Xinyi. Their food is fantastic and highly recommended if you haven’t tried it. And if you haven’t tried it, get the Xiaolongbao (small dumpling).
If you’re vegan or vegetarian, or a tea lover, or if you have food allergies, I’ll provide specific resources in those areas later.
Recommended Establishments
Here are Taiwan’s most popular foods and the restaurants I recommend trying them at:
- Xiaolongbao: Din Tai Fung
- Beef noodles: Fuhong Beef Noodles in Ximending, Taipei
- Stinky tofu: Tien Hsiang (天香臭豆腐) in Tonghua Night Market, Taipei.
- Shaved ice: I’ll get back to you on that…
- Seafood (in general): Guei Hou Fish Harbor (near Yehliu)
- Indigenous cuisine: Specialty varies by tribe.
- Fruit: Specialized fruit stands or traditional markets (wet markets).
- Taiwanese breakfast: I think any is fine; but most people recommend Yonghe Soy Milk King.
- Ice cream: Snow King in Ximending.
Websites to check out
- Michelin Guide Taiwan: Find every Michelin Star restaurant in Taiwan.
- CookInn: Cooking classes in Taiwan
Hiking in Taiwan
If you want information regarding drone usage in Taiwan, refer to the website section under “Essential Resources for All Travelers.”
Based on my experience with hiking, the 3 potentially deadly things you need to be mindful of are:
- Snakes
- Asian hornets
- Earthquakes / landslides
I’ll list deadly snakes in the “Good Sites” section.
Asian hornets (giant bees) are also terrifying. In August 2023, they sent a hiker to the ICU after an attack [1]. August and the rest of autumn are their breeding season.
Thus, you’ll need to practice more caution when hiking.
From what I could find, many sources recommend the following:
- Avoid wearing light-colored clothing.
- Don’t use fragrances (perfume, cologne, etc.)
- Avoid walking through dense vegetation.
These buggers live underground or in trees. If you’re walking around an area with overgrowth, you risk accidentally stepping on one of their hives. Leading to a similar story to what I mentioned.
Here’s a video explaining why you don’t want one of these things to sting you:
Regarding landslides…
You can’t predict earthquakes, which is what causes a lot of deadly landslides. For instance, landslides resulting from the April 2024 earthquake killed more than 17 people.
That’s where a majority of the deaths came from.
Moreover, many landslides occur during the Plum Rain and Typhoon seasons, which are periods of heavy rain.
Plum Rain happens from mid-May – to mid-June.
Typhoon season is from July to October.
That doesn’t mean you can’t hike at all during those periods. However, you should keep an eye on the forecast for heavy rain warnings.
Getting Permits to Hike in Certain Paths
Many of Taiwan’s more intense hiking paths will require one or both of the following permits:
- National Park Permit / 入園許可: You’ll need this when your path enters a national park.
- Police Mountain Entry Permit / 入山許可
If you get caught hiking particular paths without the required permit, you’ll get banned from the path or fined. You’ll also get fined up to NT$30,000 if you don’t have insurance.
Information that you’ll need to provide includes:
- ID number for each person: ARC (for foreign residents) or passport number.
- Basic information: Name, birth date, phone number (Taiwanese), and accommodation or home address
- Emergency contact information: Name and phone number.
- Itinerary for your planned route
I have never gotten a hiking permit or insurance, but here’s a blogger who did. They do a much better job of explaining everything about such permits.
List of National Parks
| Yushan National Park | Taroko National Park | Kinmen National Park |
| Kenting National Park | Shei-Pa National Park | Taijiang National Park |
| Yangmingshan Park |
Good Sites to Check Out
- Taiwan Forestry Bureau: List of hiking paths in Taiwan.
- Filter whether they’re open / closed, difficulty, elevation, and ways to get there.
- Official trail difficulty classification: Provides a description of who it’s suitable for and recommended equipment (from the government).
- List of venomous snakes: Taiwan has a decent amount of deadly snakes (6 species). Learn how to identify and watch out for them.
Recommended Apps
- AllTrails: Find hiking trails.
- iNaturalist: Identify plants and wildlife encountered while hiking.
- Gaia GPS: Offline maps, a lot of information about routes, etc.
Hiking Supply Stores
- Ting San Iou / 台北山水
- Metro Oasis / 城市綠州
- DECATHLON / 迪卡儂
- 好時辰運動休閒用品廣場: No. 3號, Lane 14, Longan St, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City, 330
Ting San Lou, Metro Oasis, and DECATHLON seem to be all in Taiwan’s main cities (Taipei, Kaohsiung, etc.).
Before visiting any of these stores, make sure they’re still open. When I wrote this in 2024, they were.
Taipei used to have the store 100 Mountain, but it shut down…
Recommended Facebook Groups
- Parkbus: Hosts hiking events.
- Hiking and Riding in Taipei: More hiking groups.
- Taiwan Travelers: General group for foreigners in Taiwan.
I found more groups, but most of the recent posts had no reply. Or were from multiple years ago.
History & Culture Buffs
Taiwan has more than 15,000 official temples [2]. It doesn’t appear that there’s a database on all of them. However, Wikipedia does an OK job aggregating them.
They’re not hard to find. There are literally 2 different temples right outside my apartment. Though, they’re just for what my wife calls “neighborhood gods.”
Longshan Temple in Taipei is the most popular one, and it is definitely one must-see temple in the country.
Refer to my guide on festivals in Taiwan to see if your visit coincides with one of them.
However, if you want to see indigenous festivals, you maybe shouldn’t just wedge yourself into observing their festival unless they say it’s cool. Because from what I understand, it’s mostly a tribal thing.
Night markets, old streets, and traditional (wet) markets are all excellent ways to immerse yourself in Taiwan’s culture.
Museums & Historical Sites
- National Palace Museum (Taipei): Houses the world’s largest collection of Chinese art and artifacts.
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (Taipei): A hall dedicated to Taiwan’s former leader.
- Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines (Taipei): Showcases the diverse cultures of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples.
- Fort San Domingo (Tamsui, New Taipei): This historic fort was built by the Spanish in the 17th century.
- Anping Fort (Tainan): Remnants of a Dutch fort from the 17th century with a rich history.
- Confucius Temple (Tainan): A temple honoring the influential Chinese philosopher.
- 228 Peace Memorial Park (Taipei): Commemorates a significant event in Taiwan’s history.
- Rainbow Village (Taichung): A vibrant village transformed by colorful murals painted by a former soldier.
- Cihu Mausoleum (Taoyuan): The temporary resting place of Chiang Kai-shek and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo.
- Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (Kaohsiung): A Buddhist complex with a giant Buddha statue and various exhibits.
- Former British Consulate at Takao (Kaohsiung): A restored 19th-century building offering insights into Kaohsiung’s colonial past.
- Tzu Chi Cultural Park (Hualien): A complex showcasing the humanitarian work of the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation.
Hot Spring Seekers
| Tattoos Allowed | Yes |
| Nudity Required | Depends on the hot springs |
| Best Time to Soak | December – February |
Read my in-depth guide on Taiwanese hot springs.
Taiwan’s hot springs are different from Japan’s onsens because Japan uses heated water with added minerals. Taiwan’s springs have geothermically heated water.
When visiting hot springs, you’ll find different setups like:
- Public mixed sex (大眾池): men & women share pools
- Private rooms (湯屋): get a pool to yourself
- Segregated pools (男湯/女湯): share a pool with your gender
Types of Hot Springs
1. Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate Springs: Also known as “Beauty Springs,” these odorless and colorless springs are believed to soften skin.
Found in:
- Jhihben: Taitung County
2. Salt / Hydrogen Sulfide Springs: These springs have a salty taste and a slight sulfurous smell and are found in coastal areas like Qigu and Dongpu.
Found in:
- Antong: Hualien County
3. Sodium Carbonate Springs: Also known as “Soda Springs,” these springs can feel slippery and are often used for bathing and skin treatments.
Found in:
- Jaixi: Yilan County
- Jhihben: Taitung County
4. Ferrous Springs: With a distinctive rusty red or yellow color, these iron-rich springs are said to help with fatigue and poor circulation and can be found in Ruisui and Zhaori.
Found in:
- Rueisuei: Hualien County
5. Sulfur Springs: Easily identified by their strong “rotten egg” smell, these sulfurous springs are believed to have therapeutic benefits for skin conditions and are found in Yangmingshan and Beitou.
Found in:
- Yangmingshan: Taipei City
- Green Island: Taitung County
6. Mud Springs: Unique to Guanziling, these springs contain a thick gray mud rich in minerals, purported to have skin-soothing and healing properties.
Recommended Hot Springs
- Beitou Public Hot Springs, Taipei
- The Sun Hot Spring Resort: Guguan Hot Springs Park, Taichung
- Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort: Wulai, New Taipei
- Art Spa Hotel: Jiaoxi Hot Springs, Yilan
- Onsen Papawaqa: Tai’an Hot Spring, Miaoli
- Tong Pu Hotel: Dongpu Hot Spring, Nantou
- Water Fire Cave (水火同源): Guanziling Hot Springs, Tainan
- Sichongxi Public Hot Spring Bath: Sichongxi Hot Springs Park, Pingtung
Hot Spring Etiquette
Remember this etiquette when visiting hot springs in Taiwan:
- Don’t sit on the side of the pool with only your feet in the water
- Don’t rest your feet over the side of the hot spring
- Wear slippers between pools
- To avoid bringing debris into pools
- Wear swimming hats at mixed-sex pools
- Prevents your hair from shedding into the water
- Avoid public display of affection (PDA
- Stay in the hot springs for 15 minutes at a time
- You can return at least 3 times
- Don’t take photos or record videos of anyone
To ensure you have good etiquette, follow these steps to use a hot spring:
- Wash: Sit on a low stool & clean yourself
- Rinse: Use a bucket to rinse yourself
- Bathe: Relax in the hot spring
- Shower: Clean the hot spring mess off your body
- Drink: Replenish yourself with a drink
Tea Lovers
It’s like every direction you look you’ll see a tea or convenience store. I’ve tried many drink stores in Taiwan and have found that Presotea provides the best-tasting tea.
By the way, I’m not comparing it to tea at tea houses. This is just a caffeine boost while you’re walking around.
Types of tea in Taiwan include:
- Oolong Tea (烏龍茶): Partially oxidized tea with a wide range of flavors.
- Black Tea (紅茶): Fully oxidized tea with a bold and robust flavor.
- Pu’er Tea (普洱茶): Fermented tea with earthy and complex flavors.
- White Tea (白茶): Minimally processed tea with delicate and subtle flavors.
- Green Tea (綠茶): Un-oxidized tea with a fresh and grassy flavor.
Most of the teas grown in Taiwan are of oolong variety. For instance, you’ll find Alishan High Mountain (阿里山高山茶) and Iron Goddess teas (鐵觀音茶). There are more than 25 varieties, which I won’t list in this post.
Regarding taking tea out of the country, you’ll need to check the rules with your particular airline.
Noteworthy Tea Farms
- Xing Yuan Tea Farm, Yilan
- Wuhe Tourist Tea Plantations, Hualien
- Shiding Bagua Tea Plantation (石碇八卦茶園), New Taipei
- Sun Moon Lake Antique Assam Tea Farm
- Shizhuo Trails, Alishan
- Daxi Tea Factory, Taoyuan
- Xiong Kong Tea Plantation, New Taipei
- Antique Assam Tea Farm, Nantou
- Tongluo Tea Factory, Nantou
- Pingtung Branch office & Laopi Tea Farm (Rainforest Alliance Certified), Neipu
Places to Buy Tea
- If you’re outside Taiwan, you can find tea sourced from the country on Eco-Cha.
- Or you could order from Global Tea Hut, which is based in Miaoli, TW.
- Or while you’re in Taiwan, buy tea directly from the local shops.
- Lin Mao Sen Tea Co in Taipei is an excellent place to buy bulk tea.
- Speaking of Taipei, go to the Taipei Expo Farmer’s Market in Maji Square to find more locals selling tea.
Tea House & Shop Recommendations
- Yashe Yongkang Teahouse (啞舍永康): Minimum spend of NT$180 per person.
- Daliao Historical Tea House, New Taipei City
- Stop By Tea House (串門子茶館): Also in Taipei.
- Qingtian Teahouse: Starts at NT$450 per person.
- Hehe Qingtian Teahouse (和合青田): NT$600+ per person and reservation required.
- Eighty-Eightea Rinbansyo (八拾捌茶輪番所): Japanese-style tea house located beside a shrine.
- Any tea house in Maokong Mountain (Taipei)
- Mountain Ali Tea No. 35, Alishan
- Tea Master Chang Nai-Miao Memorial Hall:
- Tea sampling
- “Advanced” tea classes
- Tea ware repairs
- Exhibitions
- Sales of tea ware and tea
Tea Museums & Cultural Centers
- Lugu Tea Culture Center, Nantou
- Pinglin Tea Museum (坪林茶業博物館), New Taipei
- Taiwan Hakka Tea Culture Museum (臺灣客家茶文化館), Taoyuan
Online Resources for Taiwanese Tea
- Taiwan Tea Corporation: Provides information on Taiwanese tea varieties, tea-growing regions, and tea culture.
Avitourism Enthusiasts
- Best Months for Bird Watching: October – May
Considering you’re likely a seasoned birdwatcher reading this section, I’m not going to try to get you to buy products from affiliate links. Because I assume you know what you need to watch birds.
I don’t know much about birdwatching, to be honest. But I’ll provide as many resources as I can to help guide you toward the information you’ll need.
I’ll present a list of places to watch birds; however, it doesn’t mention city parks. Da’an Park seems to be a very popular place to watch birds. I always see people with crazy camera setups facing birds.
Places to Find Cameras or Replacements
- “Camera town” in Taipei
- Guang Hua Digital Plaza and Syntrend; they’re adjacent
- Big Camera: The website is in Chinese
Most of the major places where cameras are found are in Taipei. I can’t help you much outside this city.
Recommended Apps
- eBird: Record bird sightings and contribute to scientific research in Taiwan.
- iNaturalist: Identify and log bird sightings while birding.
Websites to Check Out
- Taiwan Wild Bird Federation: Resources for birdwatching in Taiwan, including species information and hotspots.
- Checklist of birds in Taiwan in 2020 (PDF file)
- More information on the state of Taiwan’s birds
- List of bird areas (PDF file): The map has a weird orientation. You’ll need to rotate the map in your PDF reader.
Families with Children
I don’t have any kids and can’t relate to any parents. However, Nick Kembel (another blogger) has kids and has a good write-up on visiting Taiwan with children.
I can recommend some destinations, though.
Best Places to Visit With Kids
- Taipei Children’s Amusement Park
- The Little Rock, Taipei
- Any city zoo
- National Taiwan Science Education Center, Taipei
- Austin Land, country-wide
- Lihpao Discovery Land, Taichung
- Leofoo Village, Hsinchu
- Suzuka Circuit Park, Kaohsiung
Music & Arts Lovers
A majority of museums in Taiwan close on Mondays.
Otherwise, there’s nothing else I can say other than to look up each recommendation to ensure they’re still open.
Must-Visit Art Galleries, Museums, & Exhibitions
| Gallery | City |
|---|---|
| Taipei Fine Arts Museum | Taipei |
| Kuandu Museum of Fine Art | Taipei |
| Metaphysical Art Gallery | Taipei |
| Fish Art Center | Taipei |
| Waley Art | Taipei |
| Double Square Gallery | Taipei |
| Museum of Contemporary Art | Taipei |
| Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab | Taipei |
| Yageo Foundation | New Taipei |
| TheCube Project Space | Taipei |
| National Center for Traditional Arts | Yilan |
| National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts | Taichung |
| Wu Deng Yi Art Museum | New Taipei |
| Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts | Kaohsiung |
| Tainan Art Museum | Tainan |
| Nanhai Gallery | Taipei |
Creative Parks & Art Districts
| Park or District | City |
|---|---|
| Huashan 1914 Creative Park | Taipei |
| Songshan Cultural and Creative Park | Taipei |
| Kishu An Forest of Literature | Taipei |
| Treasure Hill Art Village | Taipei |
| Caowu Square | Taichung |
| Rainbow Village | Taichung |
| Blueprint Culture and Creative Park | Tainan |
| Soulangh Cultural Park | Tainan |
| Pier-2 Art Center | Tainan |
| Ten Drum Cultural Village | Tainan |
| Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park | Tainan |
| Beigang Water Cultural Park | Yunlin |
| Jiu Jiu Peaks Ecology and Art Park | Nantou |
| Houpu 16 Creative Park | Kinmen |
| F3 Art Venue | Pingtung |
Live Music Venues
- APA Mini / 小地方展演空間, Taipei
- EZ5 Live House / 音樂餐廳, Taipei
- National Theater Taipei
- PIPE Live Music / 水管音樂, Taipei
- Sappho Live Jazz, Taipei
- The Wall Live House, Taipei
- Zepp New Taipei / 最新演唱會活動
- Revolve, Taipei
- Smexy, Taipei
- Legacy Taipei
- Triangle, Taipei
- Live Warehouse, Kaohsiung
Music Festivals
| Festival | City | Month/s |
|---|---|---|
| Megaport Festival | Kaohsiung | Varies |
| Road to Ultra Music Festival | Taipei | Nov |
| Eden Hill Music Festival | Nantou | Mar – Apr |
| Heartown Music Festival | Taichung | May |
| Earthfest Music Festival | Miaoli or Puli | May and Sept |
| Hohaiyan Rock Music Festival | New Taipei | July |
Traditional Crafts Workshops
LGBTQ+ Friendly Taiwan
I’m not an expert in this area, but I recommend Taiwan Tongzhi for finding support networks and additional resources for LGBTQ+ folks.
Events
- Taiwan Pride: Oct. 24, 2024 – Oct. 27, 2024
Vegan & Vegetarian Travelers
Restaurant Recommendations, Local Markets, & Taiwanese Cuisine
A majority of menu items you’ll see in Taiwan include:
- Pork (most prevalent)
- Seafood
- Beef
- Chicken
- Organ meat
Though I’m not a vegan or vegetarian, I opt for meatless options as much as possible.
And it’s pretty difficult as someone who’s not fluent in Mandarin. Unless you’re in Taipei, a good portion of the menus are only in Chinese. However, I’ve seen more restaurants (as of 2024) have English menus.
If you’re not Asian, the restaurant staff will likely give you an English menu without you asking. You could say “英文菜單 / Yīngwén càidān” (English menu), but I recommend typing it in Google Translate or having ChatGPT translate your request.
Because once you speak Mandarin, they’ll assume you speak Mandarin, and then it becomes an awkward
Speaking of translation, you’ll need to translate questions about cross-contamination of cooking tools used for meat and non-meat items.
If you’re a hardcore vegan or vegetarian, I recommend visiting niche restaurants, which are hard to find. I’m sure you know about HappyCow by now. But I’m throwing it in here just in case.
If you see a Buddhist symbol (卍) on a restaurant, that means the restaurant is vegetarian and adheres to Buddhist values. These are the safest places for you to eat.
Milk isn’t popular here — except for ice cream, obviously. If you’re in Taipei and want vegan ice cream, I tried, love, and recommend Nice Cream.
A lot of restaurants will use eggs. If you’re eyeing a particular dessert, you could ask them if they use eggs.
I’d love to write a guide about veganism and vegetarianism in Taiwan in the future. It’s on my backlog of things to do. However, I thought I’d provide immediate resources from my experience.
Students & Expats
I’ve grouped students and expats because both of y’all will be living here. Some, temporarily. Others, long-term or permanently.
And if you’re a student, Gold Card holder, or coming here as a professional, your place of employment or school will likely provide you with MOST resources you’ll need. I recommend reading everything in this section for hidden gems.
Folks getting other visas are mostly on their own. And I’ll do the best I can to help.
For students…
Taiwan has plenty of scholarships that foreigners can get for degrees and research. Whether you’re studying at a Mandarin Language Center (like I did) or going for a full-on degree.
This site does an excellent job of aggregating scholarships.
I got the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (thanks Taiwan’s government) and it wasn’t too hard to get. A little bit of persuasive writing will take you a long way.
No matter what you’re studying for, you’ll need a Student Visa. Visit the government’s website, which I linked under the “Essential Resources” section, for up-to-date information.
Words of Warning
Here are some things you should know before moving here:
- Many landlords won’t rent to you if you’re a foreigner, even if you speak Mandarin.
- This has happened to me at least 3 times so far.
- Most places don’t have dryers; you’ll need to hang your laundry outside.
- I have seen more laundromats appear lately.
- Expect and prepare for frequent earthquakes.
- City / town roads aren’t ideal for car drivers.
- It’s very humid most of the time.
- There’s a lot of noise pollution (duh).
- If you’re not Asian, you’ll likely have some people walk by you and insult you in Mandarin, Taiwanese, or Hakka.
- This happened only 2 or 3 times in my 5+ years of living here.
- Many areas don’t have sidewalks; keep your head on a swivel.
- Real estate prices are ridiculously high.
I’m nitpicking, but I want to prepare you as much as possible before you come here. Yes, it has its faults — every country does. However, I’m happy with living here.
Other Guides to See
Recommended Apps
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| Any Receipt Lottery App | Scanning receipts to enter Taiwan’s receipt lottery. |
| EZ Way | Clear imported packages through Taiwan customs. |
| EasyWallet | Manage your EasyCard and use your phone’s NFC feature as a card. |
| National Health Insurance / 全民健保行動快易通 | 健康存摺 | Access Taiwan’s National Health Insurance information and medical records. |
Notes:
- Midana and Colibri are the only receipt lottery apps in English.
- The latter isn’t available for iOS.
- Midana isn’t fully completed, but it is available for iPhone and Android.
- I tested Midana and it’s not even close to release, yet. However, it’ll be a great option in the future if the developer finishes this project.
- The National Health Insurance app is mostly in Chinese.
- EasyWallet is only in Chinese.
General Resources
- National Immigration Agency: (Decent) information for foreigners moving to Taiwan.
- How to get a driver’s license
- How to open a bank account
- Opening a bank account at Chunghwa Post (post office)
- How to get an ARC
- Withdrawing a PayPal balance in Taiwan
- Investing in stocks in Taiwan as a foreigner
- An “OK” guide to getting a name seal (AKA chop)
I’ll write a better guide on getting chops later on.
Social Media Groups & Forums
- Foreigners in Taipei & Taiwan (Facebook)
- Foreigners in Taiwan (Facebook)
- Meetup communities
Traveling with Allergies
As of 2024, Taiwan does allow you to bring up to a 2 months’ supply of epinephrine auto-injectors into the country. However, you must have a prescription. Visit Taiwan custom’s website for the most up-to-date information.
If you’re American, or have been there, you may know that many campgrounds have epinephrine auto-injectors on-site. This isn’t the case anywhere in Taiwan. Most people in Taiwan that I’ve talked to don’t even know what these pens are.
Thus, if you have anaphylaxis, don’t assume someone nearby will have a pen and come to your rescue.
If you need additional pens, you will need to get a prescription from a doctor. Expect to pay at least NT$500 for a copay when visiting a clinic (not a hospital) without Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI).
Once prescribed, you’ll need to pick up the pens. And last I checked, these pens cost NT$4,500 each.
Regarding antihistamines.
You don’t need a prescription to buy them and you’ll find them at any pharmacy. However, the box for them will likely be in Chinese. Ask the staff if they can help you find one or attempt to use the real-time camera translation feature on the Google or Microsoft Translate apps.
If the staff can’t understand English — many of them do know it —, then use ChatGPT (or another LLM) or Google Translate to ask them to help you find antihistamines because you can’t read the box.
If You Have Food Allergies
Here’s a chef card template in Traditional Chinese (PDF link): Show this to servers at restaurants or food stall owners.
When navigating Taiwan’s food, assume all restaurant dishes have a number of allergens. For instance, Taiwanese love to use peanut and sesame oil when cooking. And most places will not label allergens used in their food (in English, at least).
And when they do label, they typically don’t let people know whether there’s cross contamination in the “production line.”
I only have one example of a restaurant that does a good job with accommodating folks with allergies and that’s Din Tai Fung. Their website has an allergen guide, which allows you to filter out their menu items and see what food items have what. That particular link is for Din Tai Fung in the USA, though.
Here’s their allergen guide for menu items in Taiwan. However, everything’s in Chinese…
They do specify, “We cannot guarantee that all of our dishes are allergen-free because we use shared equipment to store, prepare and serve them.” Thus, that’s something to consider.
I don’t have allergies and have never had to deal with this. However, I want to help you out to the best of my ability.
Celiac-Friendly Places
Note that I do not have celiac disease and do not have first-hand experience vetting the sources that I’m about to provide.
What I’m providing is to help guide you toward finding gluten-free establishments.
Most of Taiwan’s staple foods have gluten in them. And it’s a pain to find gluten-free foods.
My Best Friend (BF) is Gluten Free (GF), which provides a map of gluten-free establishments in Taipei. She also provides Mandarin phrases you could tell restaurants about your celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
I did not vet any of these places. I highly recommend bringing a chef card to any of the places on the map. Just in case.
I couldn’t find many resources for gluten-free foods outside of Taipei. However, these Facebook groups MIGHT help:
- Gluten-Free Taipei: Find out where to get gluten-free foods in Taipei.
- Gluten-Free Taiwan: Same as the previous group, but applies to the whole of Taiwan.
Accessible Travel in Taiwan
Here’s a list of resources I recommend for folks needing accessibility-friendly destinations and transportation:
- Wheelmap: Map of accessible places.
- Taiwan Travel: List of tours in specific locations that are accessible-friendly.
Resources for Muslim Travelers
- Estimated Number of Muslim Residents in Taiwan (2020): 50,000 – 60,000 [3]
Muslim guidance in Taiwan (PDF link) lists the following:
- Mosques throughout the country.
- Supermarkets and hypermarkets with Halal food.
- Muslim and Muslim-friendly restaurants.
That PDF was last updated in 2024.
The Islamic Association of Taiwan (IAT) lists the following information for Muslim travelers (warning: HTTP not HTTPS link):
- Mosques
- Muslim-friendly facilities
- Products certified by the IAT
- Hospitals with Muslim-Friendly Hospital (MFH) certification.
- All Halal (AH) and Halal Corner Included (HCI) shops
If you’re a Muslim visiting Taiwan, please ask the Islamic Association of Taiwan questions regarding travel. I cannot help in this area.
Jewish Community Resources
- Estimated Number of Jewish Residents in Taiwan (2023): 1,500 – 2,000 [4]
I could not find any specific places. However, Totally Jewish Travel is a blog that provides some information regarding:
- Kosher eateries
- Kosher and Jewish Observant Friendly (JOF) hotels
- Synagogues
- Mikvahs
- Communities
I am not Jewish and have not vetted the above resource. You could use it as a starting point, though.
I couldn’t find a specific organization to contact if you have questions as a Jewish traveler in Taiwan. The best I could find is a recommendation from the World Jewish Congress (WJC) to contact the Taipei Jewish Community.
I couldn’t find any such place… The closest community center I could find is the Jeffrey D. Schwartz Jewish Community Center of Taiwan. However, during my investigation, it seems like they’re not open to questions or concerns from travelers (allegedly).
Regardless, please note that I cannot help with questions in this area.
Calling Phone Numbers in Taiwan
The rest of these sections are for helping you dial numbers in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Calling Code
Taiwan’s country calling code is ‘+886.’
If you’re visiting or staying in Taiwan, you’ll need to learn how to get a SIM card. Explore my guide on getting a prepaid card in Taiwan.
How to Dial a Taiwan Phone Number
To call a landline number in Taiwan, dial the area code and then the local phone number.
I’ll cover area codes for every city and county in a bit.
Calling cell phone numbers in Taiwan requires typing in the other person’s phone number.
Taiwan Mobile has a great visual example [5]:
If you’re outside of Taiwan and want to make phone calls to the island nation, dial your country’s exit code, then Taiwan’s country code.
Here’s an example, if you want to call Taiwan from the Philippines. You’d dial this sequence of numbers:
- 00: the Philippines exit code
- 886: Taiwan’s International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) Code
- City area code: let’s use Taipei’s code ‘02’
- Local or mobile phone number
Since Taipei phone numbers have 8 digits, an example phone number would look like this: +886-0000-0000.
City Dialing Codes
When dialing a landline number in Taiwan, you’ll need to enter one of the following area codes first:
| City | Area Code | # of Digits in Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Yunlin | 05 | 7 |
| Taipei | 02 | 8 |
| Penghu | 06 | 7 |
| Miaoli | 037 | 6 |
| Hsinchu | 03 | 7 |
| Taichung | 04 | 8 |
| Kaohsiung | 07 | 7 |
| Matsu | 0836 | 6 |
| Taitung | 089 | 6 |
| Pingtung | 08 | 7 |
| New Taipei City | 02 | 8 |
| Keelung City | 02 | 8 |
| Taoyuan | 03 | 7 |
| Hualien | 03 | 7 |
| Yilan | 03 | 7 |
| Changhua | 04 | 7 |
| Nantou | 049 | 7 |
| Kinmen | 082 | 6 |
| Wuqiu | 0286 | 5 |
| Tainan | 06 | 7 |
| Chiayi | 05 | 7 |
Transportation Services
Phone numbers to reach public transportation services include:
| Service | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Taxi Service (English) | (02) 2799-7977 |
| Taipei Metro, Taipei eBus, YouBike (Inside Taipei) | 1999 |
| Taipei Metro (Outside Taipei) | 2-27208889 |
| YouBike Customer Support | 8978-5511 |
| Taipei Bus | (02) 2976-2999 |
Sources
- [1] Taiwan News: Asian hornets swarm hikers
- [2] BBC: Taiwanese temples
- [3] Taiwan Today: Muslim-friendly Taiwan embraces religious diversity
- [4] Chabad News: Taiwan Jewish community center
- [5] Taiwan Mobile: Dialing instructions
