The Best Taiwan Travel Tips – Ready for your 2024 trip
Before embarking on our journey through Asia, we had never thought that traveling to Taiwan would in any way fit into our unplanned plans.
We have not even searched for any travel tips to Taiwan since our style of travel and life provide us with the opportunity to visit new places without much prior planning.
The idea of traveling to Taiwan came to us only when we had to purchase a ticket out of South Korea, and the cheap flight prices between the two countries made us choose this destination.
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When we bought the flight ticket and started to plan our trip to Taiwan, we realized that we would also need a ticket out of the country to obtain a visa.
And because we didn’t plan our travel guide to Taiwan very well, we couldn’t visit the whole island leisurely.
Nevertheless, in over two weeks, we had the opportunity to visit the eastern part of the Republic of China (another name for Taiwan) and have gathered all the travel information that might be useful for your next trip to Taiwan.
We hope you find this travel guide to Taiwan helpful and can organize your next trip in the best possible way.
From here, the journey begins:
1. Security – Taiwan travel tips
Is it safe to travel to Taiwan in 2024?
Despite what is heard on television and various online news sources, based on our experience, traveling to Taiwan in 2024 is quite safe.
The country, or rather its people, are known to be peaceful and welcoming, and they are also very honest and always willing to help, even if they don’t speak your language.
Another key factor supporting our claim is the low crime rate (almost negligible), which contributes to creating a welcoming environment for travelers.
So to answer this question you can take it as our first travel tip to Taiwan that this country is safe to travel to (until something changes).
How are relations between China and Taiwan?
While it is true that there is uncertainty in the relationship between Taiwan and China, and continuous international news about these two countries may give the impression that traveling to Taiwan could be dangerous, we do not know enough about the argument to write about it in this travel guide. (If you want to know more about this topic, this article might be helpful.)
We just want to emphasize that during our trip there, we haven’t witnessed any dangerous situations, and as things stand, in our eyes, Taiwan is an incredible country that definitely deserves a visit.
However, it’s always important to take normal precautions when traveling and to respect local customs and regulations. Remember to always be cautious with your belongings when traveling.
If you want more information about travel safety, here is our post you might find useful.
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2. Visa – taiwan travel tips
In the next Taiwan travel tips section, we will talk about visas and their requirements. Taiwan has its own rules and requirements for different countries around the world.
What do you need to do to go to Taiwan?
In our specific case, as European citizens, we were provided an entry stamp upon arrival with a maximum stay of 90 days. The only two requirements were to have a valid passport with at least six months of validity and a ticket out of the island within 90 days.
Remember to check the entry requirements and updated travel regulations before your departure, as these may be subject to change. Consult the embassy or consulate of Taiwan, their official website online, or, if necessary, seek accurate and up-to-date information about travel requirements at the Taiwan embassy or consulate in your home country.
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3. Vaccines – taiwan travel tips
We want to start this paragraph by saying that we are not specialists and the information is based on our experience, and it is always better to obtain information from specialist doctors in your country of origin.
As of the date we wrote this post, there are no mandatory vaccination requirements for traveling to Taiwan.
However, since we travel a lot to many countries, we should always have vaccinations for hepatitis A and B.
We also advise bringing good mosquito repellent, as there have been cases of Japanese encephalitis in the country.
Remember that vaccination requirements may vary depending on your country of origin. It is recommended to consult a doctor or healthcare center to obtain recommendations on vaccinations before traveling to Taiwan.
4. Coins and Exchange – Malay – taiwan travel tips
In our next Taiwan travel tips section, we focus on money, yeah lets do it!
The official currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), and its value at the time of writing this article is 1 euro = 34.86 TWD or 1 US dollar = 30.99 TWD. To check the updated exchange rate during your visit to this beautiful country, we recommend using the platform Xe.com.
Are you wondering how to pay on your next trip to Taiwan?
When it comes to currencies and electronic payments, we can confirm that the Republic of China is a very modern and technologically advanced country regarding electronic payments. In fact, we assure you that paying or obtaining money during your trip to Taiwan will not be complicated.
Here are a few tips about payments in Taiwan.
Paying directly with credit or debit cards in Taiwan:
Apart from local markets and small family businesses, you can pay for almost everything with your debit or credit card on your next trip to Taiwan.
However, it is a good practice to have some cash on hand, especially if you decide to dine at the night markets (which we absolutely recommend). While there are no extra fees when paying with a card, your bank may apply currency exchange fees.
To minimize these banking fees, we advise using virtual banking cards, which offer excellent exchange rates and low fees.
On our trips, we use online banking with Wise, and we are very satisfied with this company. It offers an incredibly good exchange rate and low fees, perfect for all the countries we have had the pleasure of visiting so far, including Taiwan.
What credit cards work in Taiwan?
Major credit cards like VISA, Mastercard, Diners, and American Express are accepted, so we think you won’t have any problems on your next trip to Taiwan.
IMPORTANT: Remember to inform your bank that you will be using your card abroad.
When paying with a card abroad, always choose to pay in the local currency to avoid additional fees from your bank.
Withdrawing money from an ATM in Taiwan:
According to our experience, this is the best option to obtain money on your next trip to Taiwan for one simple reason: banks operating on the island, both domestic and international, do not charge fees for withdrawing money from their ATMs.
This, combined with the fact that the country has low crime rates, makes it the best way to obtain money and be able to pay anything if you decide to travel to Taiwan.
Despite this, here are some points that may be useful if you decide to opt for withdrawing money from an ATM:
- Although we mentioned that there are no fees for withdrawing money from an ATM, carefully check the information provided on the ATM screen by the bank.
- Also, remember to inform your bank that you will be visiting a foreign country if you decide to withdraw money from an ATM.
- Your bank may charge internal fees for withdrawing money abroad or in a different currency.
- If you withdraw money from an ATM that is not connected to a physical bank, you will be charged a transaction fee in 90% of cases.
- We also recommend withdrawing money from ATMs located in banks that are open to the public so that you can resolve issues if the machine swallows your card or does not dispense the money.
- Your bank may charge additional fees for withdrawing money during weekends (for example, Revolut, a virtual bank, does this). Check this aspect in your contract.
- We almost forgot to mention that you must pay with cash to recharge and use the EasyCard for transportation. This is another good reason to use this option to obtain money.
Paying with the EasyCard in Taiwan:
Here we want to share our special travel tip to Taiwan.
We included the EasyCard in the payment methods because it is more than just a travel card. Similar to the Korean T-money or Hong Kong’s Octopus Card, the EasyCard is an essential tool for your next trip to Taiwan.
Besides being useful for traveling and getting around the country comfortably using all land transportation systems, you can pay with it in all convenience stores (7-Eleven and 24-hour stores), as well as many restaurants and small establishments that do not accept card payments.
The only thing to keep in mind is that, as we mentioned before, the only way to recharge this card is with cash at all convenience stores or transport system ticket counters.
Exchanging euros or dollars for new Taiwan dollars: This option is still widely used if your vacation is short or if you need to exchange money from another country.
Where to change money in Taiwan?
It is best to answer this question with a series of tips and emphasize where it is not recommended to change money:
- Do not exchange money in advance in your home country; the commissions could be very high.
- We do not recommend changing money at airports upon arrival, as the fees are usually higher than in any city.
- The best option is to exchange money upon arrival, using, if possible, a strong and stable currency (such as dollars or euros).
- Check how much you will be charged in difference using applications like Xe.com, which offers real and updated exchange rates.
Paying with your apps and mobile phones on your trip to Taiwan:
Although we usually do not mention this payment system in our travel guides, we have observed that using this electronic payment system is common throughout the island, as Taiwan is known for its high adoption of mobile payments.
Among the most used payment systems in the country, it is worth mentioning Apple Pay, which is only available to Apple users, and Line Pay, which is widely used throughout Asia.
Our advice: Wise is an excellent card designed to make your life easier when traveling to a foreign country that has a different currency than yours. We always use your physical card during our travels and never had a problem, even in some of the most remote parts of the world.
5. Internet and Sim Card – taiwan travel tips
In 2024, connectivity is a crucial aspect for any traveler deciding to leave their country and visit another and that’s why we include this part in our travel tips. For us, it was a very important aspect of choosing Taiwan as our next destination so the question is:
How is the internet in Taiwan?
In the case of Taiwan, being a technologically advanced country, you won’t have any problems with connectivity or when purchasing a SIM card if you decide to stay connected to the internet during your trip or if you’re on a business trip.
Which is the best SIM card to have on the internet on your trip to Taiwan?
Before mentioning the best company based on our experience, let’s start with the basics: where to buy the SIM card.
Our advice is to buy a data SIM card directly at the airport upon your arrival since the offers there are usually very competitive. In any case, the offers in the airport are more affordable (or equal) to the offers in stores located in urban centers or cities like Taipei or Kaohsiung.
Seeking to save some money and not knowing the situation, we decided not to buy the SIM card at the airport and opted to get one at a store in the city, Taipei in this case, as we usually do.
Unfortunately, we found out that the offers at the airport were cheaper than those in the city. Fortunately, we found a company called Chunghwa Telecom, which turned out to be the largest telecommunications service provider in Taiwan. Therefore, in response to your question about which SIM card is best to buy on your trip to Taiwan, we definitely recommend this company, as we had no connectivity issues during our stay there.
Additionally, due to the not-so-cheap prices, we decided to purchase a single SIM card and use it to connect all our phones and computers, finding that the card had good coverage and a fairly fast internet connection.
Do I have another option if I don’t want to buy a SIM card in Taiwan?
If you do not wish to buy a SIM card when you travel to Taiwan, you can opt for the free Wi-Fi offered in all accommodations and many restaurants and cafés.
However, you should be aware that when using this method of connection, you are exposed to possible hackers who can access your data. If you decide to use this method of connection, we recommend downloading a good VPN to be as protected as possible. Check out this VPN since we use it everywhere on our trips, and it works great.
During our trip through Southeast Asia, we also discovered that E-SIM cards are available for travelers. Practically, with the use of an application, you can get a phone number, data, and calls without having a physical SIM card in your phone. However, for now, they are only compatible with some of the latest-generation smartphones (iPhone, Samsung, and a few others).
Unfortunately, our beloved Chinese phones are not on this list of smartphones, so we haven’t had the opportunity to try this card in person. Despite that, this E-SIM seems like a great invention and will surely be a total revolution when it comes to moving from one country to another.
Here is the link that other travelers have suggested to us to get more information about it.
6. Transportation – taiwan travel tips
Traveling to Taiwan is on the wish list of any traveler, and in fact, organizing your movements once you arrive on the island won’t be difficult.
What are the main means of transportation to get around Taiwan?
Here are the main means of transportation to get around Taiwan:
TRAINS
We consider trains as the best transportation system for getting around the island. First, the train network covers the entire island, connecting major cities and iconic locations. Second, in most cases, especially on local trains, you can use the EasyCard for travel.
Additionally, the train system in Taiwan is very punctual. Lastly, there are high-speed trains that allow you to travel from one side of the island to the other in a matter of hours.
Train tips in Taiwan:
- Download and use this app to check train prices, schedules, and frequencies.
- Some trains may not accept the EasyCard, usually high-speed trains, so it’s best to book in advance.
BUSES
Where the train doesn’t go, a bus likely will. This isn’t just a saying, but a reality in Taiwan’s transportation system.
The bus network is extensive and allows you to reach areas where trains may not be accessible. The positive aspect is that you can pay with the EasyCard on all buses.
The negative side is that there is no online reservation system (at least that we know of), so you’ll have to manage arranging your trips. An app that remains useful for this task is Google Maps.
TAXIS
We have used taxis a few times with an expat friend living on the island, and we believe that if you don’t speak Chinese, it can be challenging to use this service since most taxi drivers speak little or no English.
However, in Taipei, you can use the Uber app to book a taxi. Generally, taxi drivers are quite honest, and it’s not necessary to negotiate the fare in advance.
MOTORCYCLE RENTALS
Renting a motorcycle in Taiwan is a good means of transportation to visit more remote places. However, foreign travelers face an issue in this case. Most motorcycle rental services do not rent to foreigners who do not have a Taiwanese driver’s license.
They also do not accept an international driver’s permit, so if you wish to use this motorbike in Taiwan, you’ll need patience and be prepared to pay more to rent a motorcycle.
We rented one to visit Taroko National Park, and although it was a stroke of luck, it was a good decision as it provided us with the freedom and autonomy to explore a fantastic place.
Note: The guy who rented us the motorcycle said he made a special permit for us to ride, but we don’t know if it’s true since all the documents were in Chinese, so we had no choice but to trust him.
PLANE
You can travel from one side of the island to the other by high-speed train. However, for entry and exit from the island, you’ll need to use a plane. There are many companies that fly and operate in Taiwan, so we recommend using flight search engines like Google Flights o Skyscanner to find the best deals.
EXTRA TRAVEL TIPS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN TAIWAN
Being a very safe and moderately sized island, we want to mention two additional options for getting around.
The first is hitchhiking. Many travelers have advised us to use this (free) method to travel from one place to another, as Taiwanese people are very kind and generous.
The second option is cycling, although we think that if you choose this option, you know what you’re getting into.
Finally, we want to mention that personally, we have not used either of these options, so we cannot guarantee their reliability as transportation choices.
7. Accommodation – taiwan travel tips
If you were to ask us what the most expensive part of our trip to Taiwan was, we wouldn’t hesitate to tell you it was the accommodation. And to think that our previous destination, South Korea, already seemed expensive.
We wrote about this little bit at the beginning of our travel guide to Taiwan. One of the main reasons that we opted to travel to Taiwan for just over two weeks was that we couldn’t find budget-friendly accommodations.
Based on our travel experience, it’s almost impossible to find a cheap double room with air conditioning for less than 30 €/$. At a minimum, you should expect to spend between 15 and 20 euros/dollars for a bed in a shared hostel room.
What are the best pages to search for a hotel?
To book accommodations in advance, we recommend using online booking platforms. In Taiwan, we found the app Booking.com to be the most convenient, mainly because it had a greater number of accommodations at better prices than the other apps. Among the other apps, you may find Agoda, Booking.com, and Hostelworld.
For the second time on our trip through Asia, we had the opportunity to be hosted through Couchsurfing. Couchsurfing is an app that allows you to find people who offer you a roof, or as the word suggests, “a couch,” and if you’re lucky, a bed as well.
Besides saving some money, this app is very useful and great if you want to connect with locals, see how they live, and gain a closer understanding of the cultural aspects of the place you’re visiting. For this reason, we wanted to include this option in our guide with travel tips to Taiwan.
NOTE: Although you can save money, we don’t advise using it solely for the sake of getting a free roof. Remember that the people offering you a place to stay are not a hotel; they are regular people seeking company or looking to meet other travelers.
Important: Check accommodations in advance for better prices. Also, keep an eye on the calendar to see the country’s public holidays. During those specific dates, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find last-minute accommodations (we say this from personal experience).
8. Food – taiwan travel tips
If it’s true that accommodation was the most negative aspect of our entire trip to Taiwan, the most positive was discovering Taiwanese cuisine.
It’s worth mentioning that during our two weeks in Taiwan, we solely ate local food, and you can understand that traveling to Taiwan is worthwhile just to try its incredibly delicious cuisine.
What do they eat in Taiwan?
There’s an infinity of local dishes, it would be more appropriate to write a whole article just about this, and we think we’ll do it very soon. Even so, if there’s one thing that stands out in this cuisine, it’s the incredible street food and night markets.
It’s at night when the streets fill with people, locals, and foreigners alike, who go to these markets to savor delicious food made on the spot at an affordable and honest price.
We can’t help but advise you to try all kinds of dumplings you come across (there’s a great variety), whether they are steamed, pan-fried, or fried.
Another thing that, in our opinion, stands out in their cuisine are the soups, Taiwanese-style oyster omelet, and a famous dish of tofu with the mythical century egg.
Remember that almost all the cuisine, dishes, and sauces in this country tend to be sweet and sour.
Stinky tofu, literally “tofu that stinks,” is the strangest thing we’ve tried. Locals love this dish and say it’s a delicacy. You’ll have to discover for yourself if they’re telling the truth.
Another thing that stands out and that you should try, even though it’s not food, is the world-famous Bubble tea. Yes, dear reader, Bubble tea was born in Taiwan and is undoubtedly the most consumed drink throughout the country. We think there are more shops selling Bubble tea products than there are people, ha, ha, ha!
Undoubtedly, traveling to Taiwan will be an enriching and positive experience in terms of food, and best of all, most dishes are super affordable. So, take advantage of it during your trip there.
9. Insurance – taiwan travel tips
In our opinion, one of the mandatory and useful things you must have when traveling to Taiwan (and any destination) is travel insurance. Yes, we always repeat the same things and we add this information to all travel guides but it’s something many people decide not to invest in, which is a serious mistake.
We never travel to any place, including Taiwan, without travel insurance, as we consider it a basic and essential thing not to overlook. We assure you that in case of health problems or other inconveniences during your travels in Taiwan, having insurance will get you out of trouble and save you a lot of money.
In our case, we use TrueTraveller as our insurance, and we definitely recommend it. It is a very serious and well-organized company with good conditions. Additionally, it is one of the few insurances you can purchase even in the middle of a trip, which is perfect for travelers and digital nomads like us. So, if you’re planning to travel to Taiwan, don’t forget to get suitable travel insurance to ensure your peace of mind and safety during your stay in the country.
10. Cultures and Habits – taiwan travel tips
As we have mentioned several times, what stands out about the Taiwanese people is their friendliness and respect towards others.
They love tourists visiting their country and discovering all aspects of their culture and traditions. It has often happened to us that people ask us where we come from, followed by a warm “welcome to Taiwan.”
Similarly to most Asian countries, the elderly are highly respected in Taiwan. It is not uncommon to see young people helping the elderly or slightly bowing when greeting them.
Regarding religion and beliefs, there is no official religion in the country, but different religions coexist with mutual respect. Buddhism, Christianity, and Taoism stand out among them, although there are also minority religions and groups that freely practice their beliefs.
11. Other tips and curiosities – taiwan travel tips
- Taiwan is the world’s leading producer of microchips.
- Most service stores open after 11 a.m., but the majority close after 10 p.m.
- English proficiency is generally quite low throughout the country.
- 90% of menus are written in Chinese, so you’ll need to use Google Translate.
- The climate can be divided into two seasons: a dry season from October to March, and a wet season from March to October.
- Taiwanese people seem to love (or at least it looks like it) queuing for anything.
- If there’s a queue at a restaurant, you have no choice but to join it because it’s probably good.
- There are more shops offering tea and Bubble tea in the country than pizzerias in Italy (and that means there are plenty).
- Street food markets only open at night.
- Crossing the island from east to west without private transportation and without going around the island is challenging.
- If you go to a market and smell something strange or rotten, don’t worry, it’s normal. It’s the stinky tofu trying to attract people, ha, ha, ha.
11. General prices – taiwan travel tips
Prices are based on our Taiwan experience. When we wrote these prices, the change was equal to: $1 = TWD 30.99 or €1 = TWD 34.86. We remind you that due to various factors, prices could change (up or down) and that these types of prices are for information only, since they are based on an approximate average.
Street food: 35 – 170 TWD or 1.2 – 5.4 $
Classic Local Restaurant: 50 – 520 TWD or 1.6 – 16.7 $
Dumplings: 35 – 105 TWD or 1.2 – 3.4 $ (michelin star menu 23 – 35 $ x2 pax)
International restaurants (pizza, Burger, etc.): > 350 TWD or > 11 $
Water 0.5 lt: 10 TWD or 0.3 $
2 lt water: 25 TWD or 0.8 $
Coffee expressed: 80 – 120 TWD or 2.6 – 3.9 $
Bubble Tea: 30-60 TWD or 0.9 – 1.8 $
Intercity buses (70 km): 140 TWD or 4.5 $
Local train (150 km): 230 TWN or 7.4 $
Gasoline x lt: 30 TWD or 0.9 $
Economic accommodation 2 pax/day with a/c and private bathroom: > 1000 TWD or >32 $
Bunk bed in shared room: 500 – 700 TWD or 16 – 22.5 $
SIM card (15 days / unlimited gig): 700 TWD or 22.5 $
Laundry (automatic wash): 80- 100 TWD or 2.6 – 3.2 $
Conclusions – taiwan travel tips
Despite the high accommodation prices that impacted our budget, we can still say that we enjoyed our trip to Taiwan.
The island and its people showed us a different aspect of life that we hadn’t seen or had forgotten while living in our (peaceful) bubble in Europe for a long time.
The fact that they approach life with positivity and smiles is a positive message that the Taiwanese people convey to the world. Despite all the challenges and uncertainties they face, they continue to smile and be kind to all visitors of this beautiful island.
We hope that you can enjoy and be inspired by those huge smiles on your next trip to Taiwan. We are sure you will love it, especially the food, ha, ha!
We hope our travel tips have been helpful in organizing your next trip to Taiwan. If you need any additional information, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send us an email.
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Thank you for making it to the end of this post. If you’re interested in more travel tips, or food from all around the world, we release a new post in Spanish and English every month (more or less).
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