Taipei is an easy city once a few small things are sorted. The short version first, then the detail.
- Fill in the Taiwan Arrival Card online before you fly. It's free, on the official site only.
- Carry some cash. Cards work in hotels, malls and chains, but food stalls and night markets want NT dollars.
- Get an EasyCard for the MRT, buses and YouBike, and top it up at any convenience store.
- Make sure your phone does 4G calling (VoLTE). Taiwan has switched off 3G.
- No tipping. Hotels and sit-down restaurants add a 10% service charge instead.
- Emergencies: 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance.
Entry: visas and the Taiwan Arrival Card
Many passports can enter Taiwan without a visa. How long you can stay depends on your nationality: 90 days for, among others, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Japan and South Korea; 30 days for a few countries such as Singapore and Malaysia; and 14 days for some others. The stay starts the day after you arrive and can't be extended. Visa-exempt visitors need:
- a passport valid for at least six months from the date you arrive,
- a confirmed return or onward ticket,
- a completed online arrival card.
Check your own country's rules with the Bureau of Consular Affairs before you book. Rules change, and there are exceptions.
The Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC). Since October 1, 2025, the paper arrival card has been replaced by an online one. Fill it in within seven days before you arrive, at the official site twac.immigration.gov.tw. It's free.
Good to know: lookalike websites charge a fee to "process" the arrival card. You don't need them. Use only the official twac.immigration.gov.tw address.
Money: cash, cards and ATMs
Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). Notes come in NT$100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000, and coins in NT$1, 5, 10, 20 and 50.
- Cards. Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club) are accepted at hotels, department stores and larger businesses.
- Cash for food. Night market stalls, breakfast shops and small noodle shops often take cash only. Keep some NT$100 notes and coins on you, and break big notes at a convenience store.
- Exchanging money. Foreign currency can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Bank exchange counters open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 15:30. Keep the receipt: you need it to change unused NT dollars back before you leave.
- ATMs. You'll find them at banks and in convenience stores. Check with your bank before you travel about foreign fees and whether your card works abroad.
- Transport. An EasyCard is the easy way to pay for the MRT and buses. → EasyCard, iPASS and paying by credit card
Tipping and service charges
Tipping isn't part of daily life in Taiwan. Hotels and sit-down restaurants customarily add a 10% service charge to the bill, and that's it. No tip for street food, taxis or Uber.
Phones, SIM cards and eSIMs
- Check for 4G calling first. Taiwan's carriers shut down their 3G networks in June 2024. A phone without 4G voice calling (VoLTE) may not be able to call 110, 112 or 119.
- SIM cards and eSIMs. Chunghwa Telecom sells prepaid plans and offers an eSIM for travelers from abroad at its stores. Bring your passport and a second ID: it asks for two documents. Whatever you choose, check it supports 4G calling.
Plugs and power
Taiwan runs on 110 volts at 60 hertz, with two-pin flat sockets and three-pin sockets like North America's. Visitors from Europe, Australia or Southeast Asia need an adapter, and a converter for anything that can't take 110 volts. Most phone and laptop chargers handle both voltages, but check the label.
Drinking water
The Taipei Water Department says the water it supplies is safe to drink, and tests it for 141 items, more than the 68 the national standard requires. It also runs direct-drinking fountains in parks and other public places. What reaches your tap also depends on the building's own pipes, so many people boil or filter it at home. Our advice: carry a refillable bottle, fill it at a hotel water dispenser or a public fountain, and buy bottled water at any convenience store when you need it.
Safety
Taipei is a very safe city. In Numbeo's 2026 safety index, a ranking based on how safe people feel, Taipei placed third in the world. Normal big-city sense still applies: watch your bag in night market crowds, and look both ways twice for scooters, even on a green light.
The real risks are natural ones. Typhoons can arrive in summer and autumn, and Taiwan has earthquakes. Follow the official alerts on your phone and hotel staff's instructions. → Typhoon season
Convenience stores
7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK Mart are on almost every block, and most are open 24 hours. Use them to top up your EasyCard, grab a snack or a cheap meal, buy water, and withdraw cash. The ibon kiosks in 7-Eleven and FamiPort kiosks in FamilyMart also sell tickets. → How to buy show tickets
Opening hours
- Shops: roughly 10:00 or 11:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. Department stores roughly 11:00 to 21:30.
- Restaurants: lunch roughly 11:00 to 14:00, dinner 17:00 to 22:00.
- Government offices: weekdays 08:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 17:30.
- Lunar New Year: many shops close or keep shorter hours over the holiday. → Best time to visit
Emergencies and help
| Number | What for |
|---|---|
| 110 | Police |
| 119 | Fire and ambulance |
| 112 | Emergency call from a mobile with poor reception |
| 0800-011-765 | 24-hour toll-free travel information hotline |
| 1990 | Information for foreigners in Taiwan |
The three emergency numbers are free.
Tax refunds on shopping
Foreign visitors can claim back VAT on goods bought at stores showing the TRS (tax refund) sign, when they spend NT$2,000 or more (VAT included) at one store on the same day and take the goods out of Taiwan within 90 days. Ask the store, and keep your passport handy.
Time zone
Taiwan is on UTC+8 all year, with no daylight saving time.
Sources
Visa-exempt entry and passport validity: Bureau of Consular Affairs. Taiwan Arrival Card: National Immigration Agency. Currency, exchange, cards, service charge, voltage, opening hours and emergency numbers: Taiwan Tourism Administration. 3G shutdown and VoLTE: CNA. eSIM and ID requirements: Chunghwa Telecom. Tap water and fountains: Taipei Water Department. EasyCard top-ups at convenience stores: EasyCard. Ticket kiosks: Taipei Metro. Safety index: Liberty Times, August 31, 2026. Tax refunds: Ministry of Finance. Checked October 2026.