Taiwan
Last checked:
- Capital
- Taipei
- Currency
- TWD · New Taiwan dollar
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, Indigenous languages
- Plugs
- Type A, B · 110 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Taipei 101 and Xinyi · Taipei
Landmark skyscraper with an observation deck; Elephant Mountain trail gives the classic view of it.
- Night markets (Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia) · Taipei
The best place to try Taiwanese street food cheaply.
- Taroko Gorge · Hualien
Marble canyon national park; some trails have been closed since the 2024 earthquake, check status before going (varies).
- Sun Moon Lake · Nantou
Mountain lake with cycling paths, boat rides and a cable car.
- Jiufen and Shifen · New Taipei
Hillside old town with teahouses, and a nearby village known for sky lanterns and a waterfall.
Getting around
Public transport
EasyCard / iPASS
Rechargeable cards for MRT, buses, local trains, YouBike and convenience stores. Taipei MRT rides are discounted with the card, and MRT-bus transfers within an hour are cheaper.
Public transport
MRT (Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Kaohsiung)
Clean, reliable and cheap metro systems; Taoyuan Airport MRT links the airport to Taipei Main Station.
Trains
Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)
Taipei to Kaohsiung in about 95 to 105 minutes. Book in the T Express app; foreign tourists can get discounted passes. Taiwan Railway (TRA) covers the east coast.
Bike share
YouBike
Public bike share in Taipei and other cities, paid with EasyCard or iPASS (register in the YouBike app). Very cheap for short trips.
Taxi
Yellow taxis / 55688 app
Metered yellow taxis are plentiful; the 55688 (Taiwan Taxi) app books licensed cabs. Use reputable companies at night.
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Works in major cities, but drivers must hold commercial licences, so prices are close to normal taxis.
Money and cash
Currency: TWD · New Taiwan dollar
Credit cards are accepted in hotels, department stores, chains and many restaurants in cities, but night markets, small eateries and street stalls are mostly cash. An EasyCard or iPASS pays for transit, convenience stores and many shops. Withdraw cash at bank or convenience store ATMs; carry NT$100 notes and coins for markets.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Taiwan. Restaurants in hotels and some upscale places add a 10% service charge, and that covers it. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
| Restaurants | No tip. Higher-end and hotel restaurants add 10% service charge to the bill. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | No tip expected. |
| Taxis and ride apps | No tip; pay the meter. Some sources say drivers are not supposed to take tips. |
| Hotels | Not expected; top-end hotels add a 10% service charge plus 5% VAT, often not included in the quoted room rate. |
| Tours and guides | Optional; a small tip for a private guide is appreciated (varies). |
| Food delivery | Not expected. |
Service charge: what’s true
A 10% service charge is common in hotels and mid to upscale restaurants and is printed on the menu and bill. It is collected by the business; it is not a personal tip to your server. No extra tip is expected.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Tip pressure is very rare in Taiwan. If someone asks for a tip in a normal restaurant or taxi, you can politely decline.
Useful phrases
- 買單 (mǎi dān) The bill, please.
- 可以刷卡嗎？ (kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?) Can I pay by card?
- 謝謝 (xièxie) Thank you.
Etiquette
- No eating, drinking or chewing gum anywhere in the MRT paid area or on trains; fines apply.
- Priority seats (dark blue) are for elderly, pregnant and disabled riders; leave them free.
- Stand on the right of escalators in Taipei MRT stations.
- Queue in lines marked on MRT platforms and at bus stops.
- Remove shoes when entering homes and some guesthouses.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice.
- Dress modestly and keep voices low in temples; do not step on door thresholds.
Scams and how to handle them
Phone and online impersonation scams
Where: Phone calls, messaging apps, social media
How it works: Callers pose as police, banks or officials and ask you to transfer money or share details. Taiwan treats fraud as a major crime problem.
How to avoid it: Never transfer money on request; hang up and call the police anti-fraud line 165.
ATM and card skimming
Where: Standalone ATMs
How it works: Skimmers and hidden cameras capture card details and PINs.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside banks or convenience stores, cover your PIN and watch statements.
Pickpocketing at night markets
Where: Crowded night markets, festivals, sky lantern spots
How it works: Petty theft in packed crowds, though it is less common than in many countries.
How to avoid it: Keep phones and wallets zipped and in front.
Fake online accommodation and ticket listings
Where: Social media, unofficial resale sites (varies)
How it works: Listings for rooms, concert or train tickets take payment and never deliver.
How to avoid it: Book through official sites or established platforms; buy THSR tickets only in the official app or stations.
Taxi detours
Where: Airports and tourist areas (varies)
How it works: Occasional long routes or claims the meter is broken.
How to avoid it: Use the official airport taxi queue or a booked app ride, insist on the meter and get a receipt.
Safety
- Taiwan has very low violent crime; petty theft still happens in crowds.
- Traffic is the biggest risk: scooters weave through traffic and vehicles may not stop at crossings. Look both ways even on green.
- Drug laws are very strict, including cannabis and CBD; penalties can be severe.
- Typhoons (May to November) and earthquakes occur; follow Central Weather Administration alerts.
- Use reputable taxi companies at night, especially if travelling alone.
- Some MRT platforms have monitored safe waiting zones for late-night travel.
How widely English is spoken
Signs on the MRT, HSR and in tourist areas are bilingual. Spoken English is more common in Taipei and among young people than in the south and rural areas. Taxi drivers often speak little English; show the address in Chinese.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Taiwan, safety and security
- Government of Canada: Travel advice for Taiwan
- Wikivoyage: Taiwan
- Wikivoyage: Taipei
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.