General travel tip
Taiwan is a very safe place to travel around. The country offers great infrastructure and hospitality for foreign travelers. Here are a few general tips:
- While credit cards are widely accepted in Taiwan, it is still recommended to have some cash with you. ATMs are available everywhere (not only in the bank but also convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven and Family Mart). Make sure you can use an ATM card in Taiwan by calling your bank before leaving your country.
- Taiwan does not have a tipping culture. Most of the time, you do not need to tip, although some restaurants and cafes charge 10% service fees.
- Wifi is widely available in Taiwan, but it is highly recommended to use a prepaid SIM card during your stay in Taiwan. Several internet providers are present at the airport, so feel free to choose the most suitable plan for yourself.
- A Taiwanese based company KKDAY offers a good variety of tours and services in English around Taiwan, including shuttle service, cultural tours, private tours, etc. Check their website/app if you want to simplify your trip arrangements.
To move around
Taiwan is a very safe place to travel around. The country offers great infrastructure and hospitality for foreign travelers. Here are a few general tips:
- Uber. In general, Uber is slightly cheaper than taxi although the difference is not as remarkable as in other countries.
- Taxi. Taxis are running by meter and start at ca. USD 2. The fare is fairly affordable around Taipei City and one trip is in general USD 5-10.
- MRT. Taipei Mass Rapid Transit, branded as Taipei Metro, is a metro system serving Taipei and New Taipei, and is the most efficient way to explore the city. Only single ticket are available, but it is recommended to get an EasyCard for your Taipei travels. Easycard can be used for MRT and is also accepted in some shops, like convenience stores.
- Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR). If you plan to travel outside Taipei, THSR and train will be a good option. The main cities along the west coast of the island are connected via the bullet trains THSR. The trains stop in all the major cities (Nangang, Taipei, Banqiao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying-Kaohsiung). A trip from Taipei to Kaohsiung takes ca. 90 minutes. Please note THSR stations and “normal”train stations are not always in the same location. As THSR stations are sometimes outside the city, please double-check the location before going.
台北 101
Taipei 101
The one-time tallest building in the world may no longer be a record holder, but it is still one of Taiwan’s most impressive buildings and well worth a visit. The 728-ton mass damper that allows the building to survive the island’s many earthquakes is an amazing piece of engineering and can be seen from various points within the building.
國立故宮博物院
National Palace Museum
Home to one of the largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts, the National Palace Museum offers a look into imperial China’s past. The many thousands of items on display were rescued by Chiang Kai-Shek’s government as they fled mainland China during the cultural revolution.
龍山寺
Longshan Temple
Built in 1738, Longshan Temple is one of the biggest and oldest temples in Taiwan – it has survived damage from World War II and natural disasters. Worship at this temple entails a mix of Buddhism, Taoism and that of deities like Mazu.
北投溫泉
Beitou Public Hot Springs
The Beitou Public Hot Springs stems back to the Japanese occupation, wherein the area began developing resorts, inns, tea houses, parks and public baths.
As a result, a train line and station were erected to accommodate visitors from afar to the relaxing and therapeutic hot waters.
There are three types of springs that can be found in the area: springs with either green sulfur, white sulfur and iron sulfur.
夜市
Night Market
There are plenty of night markets located throughout the country, but one of the most famous is Shilin Night Market. There’s an incredible selection of street food on offer, and shops and stands offer great deals. There are also some other smaller night market in the city center, such as Raohe Night Market and Linjiang Street Night Market: the scale might be smaller, but does not affect the quality of food.
腳底按摩
Foot Massage
Taiwan is an excellent place to enjoy a foot massage. Not only is the therapy recognized by the government as a ‘folk remedy’, but a number of reflexology masters fled to the island after the Communist takeover of mainland China in 1949. Sessions are inexpensive, often costing less than NTD 1,000 per hour. Parlours are easy to find in city centres; just look for a sign like the one shown above, or ask to your hotel concierge.
珍珠奶茶
Bubble Tea
An incredibly unique looking beverage, Bubble tea is a Taiwanese recipe made by blending a tea base with milk, fruit and fruit juices, then adding the signature “bubbles” – yummy tapioca pearls that sit at the bottom. Coco, Cha For Tea, Truedan, Tigersugar are just some of local’s favorite shops that can be found around the city.
鼎泰豐
Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant franchise, specialising in Huaiyang cuisine. Outside Taiwan, Din Tai Fung also has branches globally. Din Tai Fung is known internationally for its xiaolongbao. It was named one of the top ten restaurants in the world by The New York Times on 17 January 1993. In November 2009, the restaurant’s first Hong Kong branch at Tsim Sha Tsui was awarded one Michelin star. In December 2010, the restaurant’s second branch in Hong Kong at Causeway Bay,, was also recommended by the Michelin Guide, as well as Hong Kong’s Silvercord Branch in 2013.
火鍋
Hot Pot
At its most basic, hot pot — huo guo (火鍋) in Mandarin — is a simple dish in which a pot of heated broth is placed in the center of a communal table for diners to toss in various uncooked meat, seafood and vegetables. When the food is ready, it is fished out with a ladle or chopsticks and dipped in a sauce of the diner’s own concoction. Hot pot is traditionally a winter dish, shared by families and friends during Taiwan’s cold, rainy months, but thanks to high-powered air conditioning, it has become popular year-round.
Nightlife is concentrated around Xingi District; a few clubs/bar to hit are:
Taipei has a variety of world-class nightclubs to meet the needs of different customers. Many venues feature live music or professional disc jockeys. In addition, several of the most popular nightclubs will host various special events, such as the classic Ladies ’Night, featuring discount drinks and free admission for women. Many night clubs also have themed events, such as Latin Night. Many people like to experience several bars in Taipei in one night, enjoy the rich programs, and enjoy a party in this sleepless city.
OTHER DESTINATIONS away from Taipei
九份
Jiufen
Once a prosperous gold mining town, Jiufen is now a popular tourist destination known for being the inspiration of Myazaki’s “Spirited Away”.
