作者: 胖哥哥
The only guide you’ll ever need for travel in Taiwan
What is the main airport in Taiwan?
* Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the biggest airport in Taiwan, and is an hour trip from Taipei.
* Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) is in the middle of Taipei and is convineinet to get to and from.
* Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) is an air transportation hub in southern Taiwan.
Do I need a visa for Taiwan?
If you are from one of the following countries, you are eligible for the visa exemption program.
* With a duration of stay of up to 90 days: Andorra, Australia (effective till December 31, 2020), Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Island, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia (effective till March 31, 2020), Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Vatican City State.
* With a duration of stay of up to 30 days: Belize, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Nauru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore.
* With a duration of stay of up to 14 days (effective till July 31, 2020): Thailand, Brunei, Philippine.
* With a duration of stay of up to 21 days: Russia (effective from Aug 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020)
Here are more VISA information about Taiwan.
What can I do on a layover in Taipei?
If your Taipei layover is less than 5 or 6 hours, it’s probably best to play it safe and stay in the airport. Here are some things you can do at the airport.
* Enjoy the food: Taipei is a haven for foodies, and the casual but delicious dining experience extends to the airport.
* Get a massage: Visit the Blind Friend Massage Center in Terminal 2 to get your bones professionally cracked and soothed. The airport works with the Taoyuan County professional trade union to provide jobs for blind residents in the Taoyuan area.
* Take a shower: You can enjoy a free shower any time at all in both terminals, but you’ll need to bring your own towels and toiletries.
* Go souvenir shopping: Stop by Formosan Aborigines to pick up some unique handmade crafts as souvenirs, and learn more about the country’s history in the process. Attractively-packaged local teas and pineapple cakes make great souvenirs as well.
* Explore the themed terminals: Several public waiting areas are themed, offering fun glimpses into Taiwanese culture. From Hello Kitty, to the history of Taiwanese music, to the Taiwanese film industry, it makes exploring the airport so fun.
* Watch a movie: A small theatre in Terminal 1 shows recent feature films.
If your layover is more than 7 hours, you can do a one-day Taipei sightseeing tour or join a free 4-hour tour offered by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
The morning tour departs at 8:15 AM and is for tourists on connecting flights that depart no earlier than 3 PM. It visits Sanxia and Yingge, famous for antiquity and pottery.
The afternoon tour departs at 2:00 PM and is for tourists on connecting flights that depart no earlier than 8:30 PM. It visits the sites in Taipei city such as Taipei 101, and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall & Memorial Park.
Click the link to see more information.
How do I get to Taipei from the airport?
From Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Taipei, we list some options here.
* Taxi: 40 mins, 1150 TWD (charge by meter)
* THSR (Taiwan high speed rail): 45 min 195 TWD (transition included). Take Airport MRT and transfer at THSR Taoyuan Station.
* Airport MRT: 35 – 45 mins, 160 TWD
* Bus: 55 mins, 125 TWD
From Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), you can simply take Taipei MRT Wenhu Line to Taipei or take a taxi.
How do I get to the airport from Taipei?
From Taipei to Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), we list some options here.
* Taxi: 40 mins, 1150 TWD (charge by meter)
* THSR (Taiwan high speed rail): 45 min 195 TWD (transition included). Take THSR and transfer Airport MRT at THSR Taoyuan Station.
* Airport MRT: 35 – 45 mins, 160 TWD
* Bus: 55 mins, 125 TWD
https://www.taoyuan-airport.com/english/public_transportation
From Taipei to Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), you can simply take Taipei MRT Wenhu Line to the airport or take a taxi.
When is the best time/season to visit Taiwan?
Taiwan can be visited any month of the year for sure and this depends on what kind of weather you prefer.
* Spring (March to May)
The temperatures are usually a nice and comfortable 19-26°C. It’s a great time to visit and many people come to see the cherry and plum blossoms. With temperatures at such comfortable levels, it’s a good time for hiking and visiting the island’s parks.
* Summer (June to August)
If you do not mind hot and humid weather, then the summer might be best for you. There are still dozens of exciting and relaxing things to do in Taiwan during this time of the year, like enjoying the beach and experiencing its summer festivals.
* Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is very often deemed as the best time to visit Taiwan. Compared to the summer months, there’s little to no rainfall and lots of sunshine during autumn, making it a very comfortable season for sightseeing.
* Winter (December to Feburary)
Winters in Taiwan is a bit chilly and foggy during these months, the temperature is fairly mild and tolerable. Temperatures rarely drop below 10°C. There are also plenty of highlights during this season, including hot springs and New Year’s celebrations.
When is the typhoon season in Taiwan?
Typhoon season is roughly from July to October.
When do Cherry blossoms bloom in Taiwan?
The Cherry blossom season in Taiwan is from February to Early April. There may be a few weeks of variation based on current temperatures. Here are the best places to see cherry blossoms in Taiwan
* Wuji Tianyuan Temple: Early February to Mid March
* Yangmingshan National Park: Mid February to Mid March
* Wuling Farm: Early to Late February
* Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village: Early February to Mid March
* Alishan National Scenic Area: Mid March to Early April
Is there snow in Taiwan?
There is snow in Taiwan but only in some specific high mountains from late December to February. In major cities where most people live, the elevation is too low to snow, and the temperature almost never gets below freezing.
What kind of clothes should I wear when visiting Taiwan?
*Spring
The temperatures usually vary from 19-26 °C. A light jacket or light sweater should be enough to keep you comfortable. Wearing layers is a good idea and it allows you to strip off layers if the temperature climbs.
*Summer
The temperatures usually vary from 27-34 °C. The weather gets hot and humind. We suggest wearing shorts, t-shirts, and prepare a hat and sunscreen for sun protection. Wearing quick dry clothing is also handy.
*Autumn
The temperatures usually vary from 21-30°C. September and October may have some summer-like heat, so be sure to pack some short sleeved clothes just in case. Light clothing still works best in autumn. You may need a light sweater or coat.
*Winter
The temperatures usually vary from 14-20°C. The weather will be cooler in the North, and warmer in the south. The cooler temperatures mean you should pack some warmer clothing including a wind-proof clothing, as the humid wind might still go straight through a wool sweater. Also note that there is rarely central heating in Taiwan, so dressing in layers is recommended even while indoors.
When can I buy Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) tickets?
THSR provides on-line reservation system for the train which departure date is no more than 28 days later. Nevertheless, on the travel day the on-line reservation is only applicable to the train which departure time is no less than 1 hours before train departure. For more details, please visit the official website of Taiwan High Speed Rail.
http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/Home/Index
Is traveling around Taiwan by public transportation easy?
In Taipei, it is super convenient to travel around by Taipei Metro. You can reach almost all the famous attractions via Taipei Metro.
The train and high speed rail system connecting cities to cities are also comprehensive. However, it is not quite easy to use public transportation to move around in both urban and rural areas outside Taipei. Usually you have to wait a long time for the next bus if you miss one. It will be better if you rent a car and hire a driver.
How do I use a Youbike in Taiwan?
You can rent a YouBike bike either as a Member or as a Single rental user. If you need to rent a bike for many times, you can choose to become a YouBike member. You can authorize as a YouBike member with your electronic card such as Easy card (悠游卡) or iPass card (一卡通) and your Taiwan mobile phone SIM card. Single Rental users can use Kiosks at each station to rent a bike and use credit cards to pay usage fees.
Easy card (悠游卡) or iPass card (一卡通) first. These cards can be purchased at all Taipei Metro information counters, convenience stores (i.e. 7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK mart) and EasyCard Service Centers.
After you have a card you should:
(1) Swipe the card next to an open bike.
(2) Wait for the bike to unlock.
(3) Ride to your next destination.
(4) Place you bike in the Youbike stand and swipe your card to see how much money was deducted.
Where can I buy an easy card?
Easy cards are available at all Taipei Metro information counters, convenience stores (i.e. 7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK mart) and EasyCard Service Centers.
The standard fare cards cost NT$100 each, exclusive of a deposit and balance. After buying the card, you can top up the value (at least NT$100 per time) at all Taipei Metro information counters, convenience stores and EasyCard Service. You can use the card to take the metro, buses, rent a youbike and even buy thing at designated stores. For more details, please visit the official website of the EasyCard Corporation. https://www.easycard.com.tw/en/
What is the best place/area to stay in Taipei? Where should I stay in Taipei?
Basically, stay at a hostel/hotel near metro station, night market or shopping district is always the best.
We suggest you pick a place located at
1. Ximending
Landmarks or Shopping areas: Ximending Walking District and The Red House
2. Xinyi District
Landmarks or Shopping areas: Taipei 101, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi Place, Breeze center, National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
3. Daan District
Landmarks or Shopping areas: Tonghua Night Market, Da’an Forest Park, Yongkang Street, Jian Guo Weekend Flower and Jade Market
4. Zhongshan District
Landmarks or Shopping areas: Nanxi shopping area, Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei and Xingtian Temple
5. Near Taipei Main Station
Landmarks or Shopping areas: Q Square, Guanghua Electronic Plaza, Taipei City Mall, The North Gate, National Taiwan Museum and 228 Peace Park
6. Near Songshan Train Station
Landmarks or Shopping areas: Raohe Nught Market, Wufenpu Garment Wholesale Area, Taipei Arena
What is the average cost for the hotels in Taiwan?
Hostel: 20~30 USD per bed per night or 40~65 USD per room per night
3-Star Hotel: 90 USD to 115 USD per room per night
4-Star Hotel: 115 USD to 185 USD per room per night
5-Star Hotel: 200 USD to 335 USD per room per night
Some luxury hotel, for example, hot spring hotel or hotels with stunning view, may be over 350 USD per room per night
Please note these prices also vary by location. (The rate is around 1 USD = 30 TWD)
Where is the center of Taipei?
Taipei Main Station and Ximending is the center of old Taipei. Xinyi District (The area around Taipei 101) is the central business district. Besides these three places, both Daan district and Zhongshan district are shopping district center as well and are popular for travelers to stay.
How much time should I plan for my Taiwan trip?
The best way is that you arrange the appropriate itinerary according to the time you have.
One week – We recommend these 3 options: Taipei + outskirts (Jiufen, Shifen, Yehliu, Yangmingshan, Yilan) / Taipei + Sun Moon Lake / Taipei + Taroko Gorge.
Two weeks – This is the bare minimum if you want to get a good feel of exploring the whole island.
Three weeks – It allows you to know Taiwan deeper and you could visit more remote destinations in the Central Mountain Range or take trips to one of the outlying islands.
Four weeks – You could admire the beauty of whole Taiwan without having rush.
Is one week enough to visit Taiwan?
One week is not enough to see all of Taiwan. Although Taiwan looks small, if you would like to explore the whole island, you must spend at least 3 weeks!
We think travel slowly is best here in Taiwan. If one week is all you had, we recommend you visiting Taipei + Sun Moon Lake or Taipei + Taroko Gorge.
https://topologytravel.com/taiwan-package-tours/#2days
How many days should I plan to spend in Taipei?
In general, 3 to 4 full days is sufficient to visit the main attractions in the citys incliuding Taipei 101, CKS memorial Hall, National Palace Museum, famous temples, night markets, Ximending, Beitou hot spring, Tamsui and Maokong…etc.
If posiible, we suggest that you extend 2 to 3 days to explore the beautiful outskirts of Taipei such as Yangmingshan, Jiufen, Yehliu, Shifen, Northeast Coast and Yilan.
https://topologytravel.com/taiwan-package-tours/#1Day
Is it suitable to visit Taiwan during Chinese New Year?
During the Chinese New Year, most Taiwanese will return to their home town and gather with their family (it’s like Christmas in western countries, but a longer version). Some sites or shops will close during this period, which might influence your travel. The price for everything in this period will be also very expensive, so it is better tovisit Taiwan after Chinese New Year.
What are the main cities in Taiwan?
Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung are the 3 main cities in Taiwan.
Where are must-visit places in Taiwan?
The places that most tourist won’t miss are: Taipei 101, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Taroko(Hualien).
What is the most beautiful place in Taiwan?
It is hard to say which one is the best, there are different beauty in each place, you could see the volcanic terrain at Yangminshan, beautiful cloud sea at Alishan, peaceful lake view at Sun Moon Lake, marvellous groge at Taroko, special coastal terrain at East coast, or the warm people in Taiwan is also one of the best view in Taiwan.
Which is the best night market in Taipei/Taiwan?
There are over hundred different night markets in Taiwan, the most famous night market in Taipei is Shilin night market, and the most famous night market in central Taiwan is Fengcha night market which locate at Taichung, and the Liouhe night market in Kaohsiung.
What times do night markets open/close in Taiwan?
Usually starts at around 17:00 pm, close at around 0:00 am.
Is it safe to doing self-drive in Taiwan?
Do not recommend to self-drive in Taiwan, because most road sign are not friendly for foreigners, might get lost very easily. But if you like to have an adventure journey, please remember to bring your international driver’s permit, and watch out the speed camera .
Can I visit Sun Moon Lake from Taipei during 1 day?
Yes, you will meet our guide at Taipei Main station in the morning, take the High speed rail to Taichung, drive for about an hour to reach Sun Moon Lake, you will have about 4 hours to visit there, and return to Taipei in the evening.
What is there to do at Sun Moon Lake?
You could see the beauty of Sun Moon Lake from different angle, could take a boat ride, or to have a nice and easy bike ride around the lake, or have a better look of Sun Moon Lake from top by taking the ropeway. If you are interested in Aboriginal culture, you could visit the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. One more thing that you must try is the local aboriginal dishes.
Can I swim in Sun Moon Lake?
You have only one chance to swim in Sun Moon Lake, which is the Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival, this event is only held once a year, usually held in the summer.
How can I get from Sun Moon Lake to Taipei?
You can explore Sun Moon Lake by taking the public transportation and bus. And of course, it will take huge time to travel to Sun Moon Lake.
*From Taoyuan International Airport, I will suggest you take high speed train and then take the bus. It might take about 4-5 hours for transport.
The nearest HSR station to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TTIA) is Taoyuan HSR Station. From airport, you can take United bus (bus no.705). The bus will come every half hour.
Fare: NT$30 Traffic time: About 15-20 mins
United Bus: http://www.ubus.com.tw/onlineservice/LINEserach.asp
THSR: http://www.thsrc.com.tw
Transfer to Nantou bus 南投客運 at Taichung HSR Station (高鐵台中站1樓第5出入口第3月台) direct to Sun Moon Lake. You can ask for the bus stop, they are very willing to help.
Fare: NT$175 Trffic time: About 1 hr 30 mins ~ 2 hr
Nantou Bus plan and schedule: http://www.ntbus.com.tw/032.htm
Nantou bus rates: http://www.ntbus.com.tw/989tk.htm
*From Taipei, there is a direct bus you can
take and you need go to the Taipei main station.
From Taipei Main Station Bus Terminal, take a Kuo-Kuang Bus (國光客運) to Sun
moon lake 日月潭 . You can ask for the bus stop, they are very willing to help. This
is an express bus have only one stop at Puli Bus Station (埔里客運站) for
around 3.5-4 hours depending on traffic conditions.
Fare NT$385 each way or NT$690 roundtrip.
I’ll recommend buy a round trip ticket to avoid waiting.
*From Taichung: I will suggest you go to the Taichung HSR Station (高鐵台中站1樓第5出入口第3月台) direct to
Sun Moon Lake. No transfer required at Puli. Fare: NT$175 Travel time: About 1
hr 20 mins ~ 1 hr 30 mins.
Can I visit Taroko Gorge from Taipei during 1 day?
It is doable, but I personally will not suggest my friends traveling Taroko Gorge from Taipei during 1 day, because this is too rushed and you spend most of the time sit on the train and bus.
From Taipei to Taroko Gorge, it looks very close on the map but in between are mountainous areas; it will take approximately 5-6 hours of driving. You can check out our article discussing driving distances by clicking on the website link below.
https://topologytravel.com/%E3%80%90useful-info%E3%80%91-tour-around-taiwan-in-24-hours/
If you want to do it in one day, I will suggest you take the morning train go to Taroko Gorge. It is about 2.5-3hours. And arrive there about 10-11 AM have a quick lunch then go to Taroko Gorge. You might spend 4-5 hours there and then back to the train station about 5-6 pm. You might back to Taipei train station about 9-10pm.
Can I visit Jiufen and Shifen in one day?
It is doable, if you did not visit other places. If you visit other places and want to visit these 2 places at one day and it is a little bit rushed.
As you might know, Jiufen and Shifen are both mining town in the past. And one is for gold and one is for coal. They both have the old street. And Jiufen old street have a lot of great local food and dessert. Shifen old street is well-known for the sky lantern.
Each place will worth you spend 3-4 hours to walk around.
Does Taiwan have nice beaches? Where are they?
Taiwan is a really amazing place, there is a lot of types of beach. If you are boring for the golden sand, you must come to Taiwan. As Taiwan is small enough to travel and easily visit them all.
Here are just a few of Topology favor Taiwan beaches.
Baishawan Beach
Baishawan is one of the most popular beaches in Taiwan, because this is very close to Taipei. Only 1 hour driving you can reach this place. And the fine white sand and crystal clear blue water are waiting for you.
How to get there: Take the Taiwan Metro (MRT) from Taipei to Danshui and catch a bus from there. You can ask for the bus stop, they are very willing to help. The journey should take no more than 45-65 minutes.
Fulong Beach
Fulong have beautiful golden sands, it also hold the annual Sand Sculpture Festival.
Every summer have large and wonderful sculptures that are built along the beach.
Part of beach is belonged to the hotel but the entrance fee is NT 100. If you want to avoid the crowd, we will recommend you can pay and use the park and beach facilities.
How to get there: From Taipei Main Station you can take a train straight to Fulong. We will recommend you try the local express train, it take time but you can have more time for the view while you take ride. Oh, we will also recommend you visit Fulong during the week day to avoid the crowd.
Laomei Green Reef
Unlike other beach, Laomei beach do not have the sand at all. This beach is overshadowed by the deep troughs and trenches carved into the volcanic rock and trailing down into the ocean.
During Spring, it is covered in thick green algae, a striking natural sight. There are a lot of photographers love to take pictures around sunset or sun rise.
How to get there: Take the Taiwan Metro (MRT) from Taipei to Danshui and catch a 863 bus from there. You can ask for the bus stop, they are very willing to help. The journey should take no more than 2.5 hours.
Chihsingtan Beach
This beach with the spectacular landscapes. Facing the Pacific Ocean, if you have good eyesight, you can see California in USA. This is a marble stony beach.
When you walk or cycle along the beach, you are surrounded by cloud-shrouded mountains
How to get there: Take train from Taipei and stop at the Xincheng Taroko Train Station (新城太魯閣火車站). The train will take 2.5-3hours. Then you can take taxi, it should only take about 5-7 mins.
Kenting
Kenting National Park coastline Taiwan
This beach is in the national park and it is famous for the tropical climate combined with a unstop sea breeze means its beaches are kept comfortable warm all year round. It have the tropical plant and wild life in the Kenting National Park.
With the rich coral reefs and meet the colourful marine life, so Kenting is a great spot for sunbathing and swimming.
So no matter you want to get wet or keep dry, you can find something to do in Kenting.
How to get there: The nearest city is Kaohsiung, and Kenting express buses will take you directly to Kenting.
Is Taiwan a good destination for outdoor activities?
Taiwan consists from two very different parts: a flat plains region and the gentry rolling hills of west coast where most of people live, and the eastern two-thirds dominated by a mountain range. The mountains extend 330 kilometers from north to the south. And it is an island facing the Pacific Ocean with the warm tide from the equator. So the temperature of sea close to Taiwan never rich the freezing point
So no matter you want to get wet or keep dry, you always can find some outdoor activity to do in Taiwan.
For more on hiking and trekking, visit the Forestry Bureau’s website: http://www.forest.gov.tw.
For more detail on the trekking trails that will make up the system, visit trail.forest.gov.tw.
Is Taiwan a good place for cycling/biking?
Giant is made in Taiwan. Over 70% population will have bike in there house. It make Taiwan became a great place for ridding the bike, no matter you want to have a cycle touring or mountain biking.
Taiwan has vigorously promoted bicycle tourism for many years. Its efforts include an extensive network of bicycle routes. Riding a bike with scenic beauty and tasty cuisine along the way, these routes are attracting growing ranks of cyclists from around the world.
For the cycle touring
Taiwan have round island road which is considered flat and it might take about 10-12 days to finish. If you like more adventure, you can try ride into the mountain area. There are 3 Cross-Island Highway and you will see much of the island’s best mountain and coastal scenery in one long ride.
For Mountain biking
TopologyTravel will recommend you can find the bike club in Taipei or Taichung. You can join their weekly activity. Because different route will change a lot depend on the weather.
Here is the bike guide map for whole Taiwan.
https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/att/files/Cycling%20Taiwan%20-%20Great%20Rides%20in%20the%20Bicycle%20Kingdom.pdf
Here is the map for the GIS bike map in Taiwan
https://www.trailforks.com/region/taiwan/
Is Taiwan a good destination for honeymoon?
A lot of Chinese choose Taiwan for their honeymoon destinations. Because the price is very reasonable and Taiwanese is very hospitality. This famous hospitality may spring from the strong Buddhism or Taoism faith of most Taiwanese. Taiwan is also the safest places to visit.
Here is the report about the Taiwan safety from Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2014/07/19/what-taiwans-world-class-safety-ranking-ignored/#79694ac65b22
Here are some stories why we design honey moon tour.
https://topologytravel.com/pre-wedding-photo-shoot-and-mini-honeymoon/
Is Taiwan a good destination for family? Is it easy to travel with kids in Taiwan?
A lot of Chinese choose Taiwan for their family trip destinations.
Here are the reasons:
When you take public transportation like subway, they always have priority seats. Taiwanese are very kind, they will give the seats to whom need.
Almost all restaurant have the baby seats.
Taiwan is also the safest places to visit.
The price is very reasonable.
Hotel can prepare the baby bed.
Taiwanese is very hospitality. This famous hospitality may spring from the strong Buddhism or Taoism faith of most Taiwanese.
Here is the report about the Taiwan safety from Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2014/07/19/what-taiwans-world-class-safety-ranking-ignored/#79694ac65b22
Here are some stories why we design the family tour in Taiwan.
https://topologytravel.com/family/
What is the currency in Taiwan?
It is New Taiwan Dollar with international currency code TWD and its abbreviation is NT$.
Taiwan have the money change control, so you only can change money with the bank. Many banks in Taiwan allow you to exchange into TWD, many hotels and department stores do as well, but in a bad rate. You’ll probably get a better exchange rate in banks than at airports. Private money changer is not allow rare in Taiwan.
But most of places take credit card, you can use VISA, Master, JCB, UnionPay. However, American express or Discovery are rarely in Taiwan.
https://topologytravel.com/taiwan-travel-guide-read-before-you-go/
But most of places take credit card, you can use VISA, Master, JCB, UnionPay. However, American express or Discovery are rarely in Taiwan.
https://topologytravel.com/taiwan-travel-guide-read-before-you-go/
Where
is the best place to exchange money in Taiwan?
In Taiwan the banks are generally the best places to exchange currency, with
reasonable exchange rates and the lowest fees.
You better change it in the Airport: Bank of Taiwan (government own) or Mega
Bank, for the current exchange rate you can check this link:
http://rate.bot.com.tw/xrt?Lang=en-US
Currency exchange service in Taiwan is
strictly regulated by the government. You can only exchange money at banks or authorised
businesses. There is no independent money changer on the streets like in other
Asian cities.
The New Taiwan Dollar banknotes are issued in NT$100, NT$ 200, NT$500, NT$1000,
and NT$2000. Coins come in denominations of NT$50, NT$10, NT$5, and NT$1.
Are there ATMs in Taiwan?
Taiwan’s ATM density is the highest in the world, ATMs in Taiwan are ubiquitous. You’ll find 24-hour ATMs in most convenience stores and banks, and there are also plenty of ATMs scattered throughout department stores, MRT and train stations, airports, etc.
If you withdraw money at an ATM from a local bank, most of them will charge you 300 NTD. The ATM located in the MRT stations are Cathay United Bank and charge 100 NTD as convenience fee. You can also find ATM in most of the convenience stores. China trust’s ATM in 7 ELEVEN will charge you 100 NTD to use the machine while the Taishin’s ATM machines in FamilyMart are free.
Is credit card widely accepted?
Credit cards are widely accepted in shops, and most vendors will only accept cash. Payment types that can easily be used in Taiwan include Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express (less common), and Unionpay.
The credit card acceptance is good in large restaurants/shops but cash is still very important. ATM are easy to find in cities.
For instance, for night market visits and public transportation like Taipei MRT, cash is king. If you want to enjoy some bubble/pearl tea, you need cash. At supermarkets and dept stores, charge is fine.
What should be my daily budget? How much money should I bring?
Taiwan has a myriad of medium budget food places, with prices ranging from 100-300NTD/dish, Food prices in Taiwan are pretty reasonable in most places, and the quality is quite high on average. Some people like eating the local food and doing so on the streets.
Night Market Food the general prices for one item are between NT$30 – $120
Meals – Decent meals in restaurants will be between NT$200- $350
Bubble Tea / Coffee – The average price of a bubble tea or coffee from a tea or coffee shop is NT$60-$80
What do Taiwanese people eat for breakfast?
Breakfast foods in Taiwan can be roughly put into two categories: traditional, and western fusion. Traditional style breakfast includes Fried bread and Oven Baked Cake, Egg Pancakes, Steamed Bread with Eggs, Rice Balls, and porridge with different side dishes.
If you don’t like traditional breakfast, you can choose the western fusion. The most famous brand is possibly Mei&Mei, a small shop you could find on almost at every corner. With them, one can easily find burgers, sandwiches, and pancakes starting from 5 am.
What is the must-eat food in Taiwan?
We have food tour for you in Taipei, you can check this link.
Top 10 must-eat food Taiwanese
Beef Noodle Soup
Hot Pot
Taiwanese Fried Chicken
Xiao Long Bao
Stinky Tofu
Shaved Ice
Pineapple cakes
Oyster omelet
Gua bao
Minced Pork Rice
Is the water safe in Taiwan?
In Taiwan, you can drink bottled water, regarding drinking water is that it should only be drunk if it has been boiled (and preferably filtered).The main problem with Taiwan water really needs to be filtered.
Bottle of Water – Most hostels will offer re-fillable water but a bottle of water in a supermarket like 7/11 is around NT$25
Is Taiwan a safe place to travel?
Taiwan is relatively safe to visit. Though the rates of violent crime are super low by world standards, you are recommended to remain vigilant at all times. Petty crime rates are low as well, but pickpocketing and bag-snatching do occur, especially in locations frequented by tourists.
Here is the report about the Taiwan safety from Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2014/07/19/what-taiwans-world-class-safety-ranking-ignored/#79694ac65b22
What kind of electricity is used in Taiwan? Do I need an adapter?
Taiwan has the same electrical standard as the US and Canada: 110V, 60Hz AC. Electrical sockets have two vertical slots. If you bring appliances from Europe, Australia or Southeast Asia, you’ll need an adaptor or transformer.
https://topologytravel.com/taiwan-travel-guide-read-before-you-go/
A Promise Is A Promise: A trip that has been waiting for over 40 years.
Last October, my client Asher who is from Israel had been diagnosed with lymphoma. He must do the relevant examination and treatment as soon as possible; therefore, he had to cancel his scheduled trip to Taiwan. At that time, my mother also did chemotherapy in the hospital, so I understood his situation. I told him that I believe a cheerful heart is good medicine and sent my sincere blessing to him, hoping the examination and treatment will be pretty smooth. On the other hand, I returned the tour fees as much as possible to him and invited him to visit Taiwan once he gets better. Read more
【Secret Taiwan】Besides Taroko, what are the highlights you should not miss in Hualien?
When it comes to Hualien, the first place people have in mind is usually Taroko National Park. In fact, there are still a lot of places that are worth visiting in Hualien. We will show you something different and interesting, so you can plan your another trip to Hualien right now!
1. First Stop: Learn how to become a Amis hunter
Go to Cidal Hunter School (吉籟獵人學校) to experience the lifestyle and traditional knowledge of Amis tribe.
After 30-minute drive south from Hualien City, you would get to this Amis community and start the hunter experience course. The hunter will teach you how to weave a headdress, symbolic of the unity of the Amis tribe, from coconut leaves. The next lesson is weaving rope and creating a container for holding water from natural plant materials. After this, you are taught how to start a fire without the use of matches or a lighter. It is quite hard but very interesting. All of these skills are needed for surviving and hunting in the mountains. These activities will brings to the fore the wonderful harmony relationship between the human race and mother earth.
2. Go Cycling at Danongdafu Forest Park (大農大富平地森林園區)
Danongdafu Forest Park is located in Guangfu Town of Hualien County, the southern area of Hualien. The mild bike trails are attractive to people who love cycling and people who’s not very good at cycling. It seem like you can temporarily throw all your worries away when cycling. What else you will ask for when cycling along the secretive trails and lush trees with wild sky above. Once you visit here, you will never want to leave (or never want to get back to work).
Liyu Lake is only 18 kilometers from Hualien City. To be frank, here is not a prosperous attraction, but it’s a nice place with peaceful atmosphere to relax you. Every year around March to May is the best time to spot fireflies and butterflies in the area. If you’d like to do some light outdoor activities, don’t miss Liyu Lake.
The bicycle path that circles the lake is around 5 kilometers long, and allows cyclists to experience the pleasant natural beauty of the lakes and mountains from their vehicles. Liyu Mountain has many forest footpaths which allow hikers to enjoy the birds, flowers, and scenery, making it one of the best exercise choices. Besides, here are also some water activities such as kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and paddle boat experiencing. If you are looking for a place which is suitable for the whole family, Liyu Lake would be a good choice.
【Flavor of Taiwan】What the locals eat in Taiwan? – Part 1
When looking for restaurant recommendations abroad, travelers always fantasize about a “local” who will guide them to the best and authentic meal. Today, as locals like us, would like to show you what we love to eat in our real lives.
Stir-Fried Dishes Restaurant 台式熱炒
Stir-friend dishes restaurant is the right place for you if you don’t want to eat with the tourists and want to try something local. Having hands of beers and some stir-fried dishes with friends could be considered as the local night life for Taiwanese. The environment of the stir-fried dishes restaurant is noisy, but it also means you can be fully relaxed and laugh as loud as you want when having meals with your friends, colleagues or family.
Each dish in the restaurant costs only 100-300 TWD , which is a very reasonable price! Some stir-fried dishes restaurants provide fresh seafood and you can pick fish or shrimp which is still alive by yourselves before the chef cook the cuisine for you.
What’s more interesting, some dishes are dubbed with really fancy names such as Ants Climbing a Tree, Old Skin Soft Flesh or Flies’ Head.
Ants Climbing a Tree
Ground meat cooked with glass noodles with soy sauce. It looks like tiny little ants climbing up the branches.
Old Skin Soft Flesh
Fried egg tofu. It looks like old people’s wrinkled skin on the outside and new-born babies’s soft skin on the inside.
Flies’ Head
Cooked with minced meat, chopped chive and fermented black beans. The big black beans look like there are some visitors on your dish.
Hot Pot / Spicy Hot Pot / Twin-side Hot Pot 火鍋
I believe hot pot is definitely one of Taiwanese favorite cuisine since we have a variety of hot pot restaurants here in Taiwan from spicy hot pot, twin-side hot pot, all-you-can eat hot pot, sukiyaki, hot pot BBQ and shabu-shabu. Oh! We even have stinky tofu hot pot!
There will be a simmering pot of soup stock at the dining table, containing a variety of ingredients such as thinly sliced meat, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings, tofu, and seafood…etc. The cooked food is usually eaten with a dipping sauce.
Taiwanese also pay attention to the matching the temperature of foods to the body’s needs, so in the winter, ginger duck with rice wine, mutton hotpot and Taiwanese sesame oil chicken stew are the popular hot pot as well. They are SO aromatic that will make you can’t wait to taste them.
Braised Dishes 滷味
Taiwanese people love eating braised food as it’s quick, convenient and delicious. There are two kinds of braised dishes mainly, cold and heated braised dishes.
The ingredients of braised dishes is various from vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, dried tofu to tempura. If you like to weird food (locals like us feel tasty), you can also order some animal’s entrails such us pork liver, chicken heart or duck’s gizzard.
For cold braised dishes, the ingredients are braised with soy sauce. You can eat them directly after picking what you want to eat from the vendor. For heated braised dishes, the only different is that the vendor will cook your food in hot water with soy sauce or some Chinese herbal so that the food will be tasty. You can also order the noodles and the vendor will cook them with the ingredients you pick together. Choose whether to add pickle and chopped spring onion to add some flavor.
Suggestions for Traveling in Taiwan during Chinese New Year
Every year, many travelers plan to visit Taiwan during Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) to get a feeling of the atmosphere.
Is it a good idea? Let us share with you the suggestions for traveling to Taiwan in the Lunar New Year.
First, you should know the restrictions and situations you have to face if you would like to visit Taiwan during the Chinese New Year.
1. Some sites or shops will be closed during Chinese New Year
Every year, the vacation of Chinese New Year will be 5 to 9 days. During the Chinese New Year, most Taiwanese will return to their home town and gather with their family (it’s like Christmas in western countries). So, some sites or shops will be closed during this period, which might influence your travel.
2. Hard to find a restaurant to have your meal
The restaurants will be closed as well. For example, the famous Din Tai Fung is closed on Chinese New Year’s Eve and the first day of the lunar calendar. On the other hand, some restaurants only provide banquet set for a whole family over 10 people. So, please do call the restaurants you plan to go to check when they will take days off and make reservations in advance.
3. The traffic will be extremely busy
There will be traffic jam on most of the highways because people will visit their “families” (the husband’s family and the wife’s family and even friends’ families) to celebrate the New Year. The time you spend on traffic will be at least twice as normal.

4. It will be VERY crowded at every tourist attraction
Taiwanese will grab this “rare” long holiday to travel with family. You will find it very strange that our capital Taipei will be almost empty and very quiet during this period, because most of people who work or live in Taipei are actually from other counties.
5. The price of accommodation will be VERY expensive
It’s the peak tourism season for Taiwanese or Chinese. And the cost of a tour guide will also be higher because they will sacrifice their time with their family to provide services for the guests.
Seeing this, you may feel “Oh My God! Then should I not come to Taiwan for the Lunar New Year?”
We know that during this time, for some Chinese families living overseas, it may be the only chance to gather the whole family and travel together So we will give you the following suggestions:
1. If you haven’t buy the air tickets, we will suggest that you visit Taiwan AFTER the Chinese New Year if possible
After Chinese New Year, most the shops or markets will be opened as normal and people will return to their regular routine life. The decorations from Chinese New Year will remain, since we like to extend the feeling of happiness longer. You will find red couplets, firecrackers, and lanterns still hung on the wall or ceiling.
On the other hand, try to include famous Lantern Festival into your travel dates. There will be a decorative lantern fair in Taipei City, and the Sky Lantern Festival in Pingxi. It is worthwhile to visit!
2. Based in Taipei and travel to nearby towns only
As mentioned, Taipei will not be as crowed as other main attractions in Taiwan, and compared to other area, the cost of hotel in Taipei is more reasonable. So if you base in Taipei and only visit the nearby townships such as Shifen, Yehliu, Beitou, Danshui, Keelung…etc, the tour will be smoother.
3. Don’t waste too much time on traveling from one city to another
If your travel days are long and you would like to go the cities outside Taipei, it is recommended that you choose only one destination where you can explore deeper and then save the time you waste on traffic.
Have any other questions about traveling in Taiwan? Ask us for more information.
【Secret Taiwan】4 Must-Do Activities in Kenting (墾丁)
Kenting is located at Hengchun township, Pingtung. In Chinese, “Hengchun” means that it feels like Spring all year round in that area. So even though you wrap yourself up like a ball with heavy clothes in winter, you can throw them all away and change into bikini and slippers and run towards the sunshine and beaches when you are in Kenting.
How to Organize A Tour to Taroko Gorge?
Taroko Gorge is one of the must-visit attractions for many travelers who come to Taiwan, so our travel consultants often answer all sorts of questions and provides suggestions about visiting Taroko. Today we have collected the frequently asked questions to share with you. If you can’t find your questions here, you are welcome to leave a message below!
The Man behind Topology—Steve: The wish to give back to the tourism industry of Taiwan was what got me started
My grandfather brought me up, and when I was young, I used to play with a mini globe all day long. My grandpa told me that I could find all the countries on this tiny ball. Looking hard for Taiwan on the globe, I found out that Taiwan was unbelievably small compared to the other countries.
When I started to attend to school, I realized that my knowledge of my homeland was so little. Every time I read the articles praising Taiwan was the Kingdom of Butterflies and Bicycles, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was all true or not. This wondering stuck in my head for a long time until the year that I left Taipei for university in Hualien. This change allowed me to see Taiwan in a very different perspective.
About a decade ago, Hualien was not as flourished as nowadays in terms of tourism. Many stores preferred “one-off consumption.” To put it simply, instead of keeping the customers coming with good quality and service, they only thought about cutting off as much meat as they could from each customer. A few years later, following the trend of blog, travel posts and delicacy posts went viral which brought many more tourists to Hualien. The government also told people that with more tourism income comes a better quality of life. However, I discovered that the poor quality of tourism only brought the local people in Hualien heavy traffic and polluted environment.
I always wanted to do something, but never had a good way of approaching the problem. Dream finally came true when I met Peter, the founder of Topology Travel, and became his second employee.
I found out that many foreigners who are working or studying in Taiwan like to travel around the island during the weekends. Unfortunately, once they set foot out of Taipei, there is not enough information written in English or other languages for them to arrange their own tour. The tourism environment of Taiwan was still not friendly enough to the foreigners. This is where Topology Travel comes in. We fill this gap with great service from our travel consultants and tour guides. This was totally different from what other travel agencies were doing back then, which was to focus more on the Chinese tourists. We chose the path less taken by providing English-speaking tour guides and customized tours so that foreign travelers can experience the real Taiwan in a way they prefer.
Through my work, I bring foreigner travelers into Taiwan which allows me to know friends from all over the world. Through them I learn how special Taiwan is and have more sense of belonging. Today, I don’t need to travel abroad to interact with foreigners and to learn different cultures. Taiwan possesses many unique qualities, such as super high level of convenience and quality of service. I truly believe that my hometown has a lot to offer, and for that I strongly recommend you to come and see for yourself.
Setting off from the small island in my memory, I have been searching for Taiwan’s position in the world and also working hard to let the world see the real façade of Taiwan.
Local Recommendations: As someone who spent his college life in Hualien, I recommend Chihsingtan Beach and Sanjhan River to you. Hualien is a fantastic place for downshifting; that is, doing nothing is the right thing to do. Just lay on the beach, listen to the whisper of the ocean, and let your body and mind wander in the wind.