Check your plugs and voltage
Taiwan uses 110 V electricity at 60 Hz. Two-flat-pin outlets are common, with grounded three-pin outlets also used. Check every device label and bring the right adapter; an adapter does not convert voltage.
First-time Taiwan
Travel essentials for your first Taiwan trip
A practical starting point for the decisions that matter before departure and during your first hours in Taiwan. Use it to get oriented, then follow the links into Taiwan Way’s destination, transport, food and itinerary guides.
On this page
Start with the question in front of you
Before you arrive
Prepare the few things that are awkward to solve when you are tired, offline or standing at an airport counter.
Check phone compatibility before choosing a plan
Compare SIM and eSIM options by device support, activation timing, data needs and whether you need ordinary voice calls. Plans and eligibility change, so confirm the current terms with the provider before paying.
Entry, customs and help
Use official resources for rules that depend on your passport, itinerary, purchases, or what you carry.
Complete the Taiwan Arrival Card on the official site
Use the official Taiwan Arrival Card site before travel and follow the submission window shown there. The form is free; avoid lookalike services that ask for payment.
Check entry requirements for your own passport
Entry requirements depend on your passport and travel situation. Check Taiwan’s official consular information before departure rather than relying on a general list.
Check food, meat, plants and restricted goods before packing
Rules can be strict for meat products, plants, animal products and other regulated goods. If you are unsure, check the official guidance before packing and declare at arrival when required.
Keep multilingual official help within reach
Save Taiwan’s Foreigners In Taiwan Hotline, 1990, for official multilingual help with topics including visas, transportation, healthcare, and personal safety. Keep your accommodation and insurance contacts available too.
Understand the tax-refund process before shopping
Foreign travelers may be eligible for a tax refund on qualifying purchases. Check official eligibility, required documents, participating stores and current thresholds before you depend on it.
01 — 02
When you land
Get connected, confirm your route and avoid making every decision at once.
Get online before leaving the terminal
Connect to a trusted network or activate your travel SIM or eSIM while you can still reach airport help. Confirm that maps, messages and booking details load before starting the city transfer.
Get an EasyCard
EasyCard is a stored-value card that is useful for MRT rides, many bus journeys and participating everyday small-payment locations. It is not required for every Taiwan trip or accepted everywhere, so check the operator for reserved rail, intercity or special services.
Optional pre-arrival setup
Want to have your EasyCard sorted before you arrive?
Klook lists EasyCard options that can be arranged before travel. Check the current product, pickup location and included value on Klook before booking.
Arriving at the airport
Choose among rail, bus, and taxi based on your destination, luggage, arrival time, and the services operating when you land.
Heading to Taipei? Start with the Airport MRT
For most first-time visitors traveling from Taoyuan International Airport into central Taipei, the Taoyuan Airport MRT is the simplest place to start. Express trains connect Terminal 1 (A12) and Terminal 2 (A13) with A1 Taipei Main Station. Arriving very late or staying far from a convenient MRT connection? A taxi or pre-arranged airport transfer may be more practical. Check current operations before travel.
Airport bus
Airport buses can be useful for destinations or arrival points that suit a direct coach better than a rail transfer. Routes, stops, and operating times can change, so check the airport’s current transport information before choosing one.
Taxi
A taxi can be practical with heavy luggage, a group, a destination far from a convenient rail or bus stop, or an arrival outside your preferred public-transport window. Use the official airport taxi area and confirm the destination before departure.
Arriving late at night?
Late-night arrivals should check current transport availability before departure. Do not assume the Airport MRT or a particular bus will still be operating when immigration and baggage collection are complete; keep a taxi or pre-arranged transfer as a backup.
Money and payments
Use cards where they work, but keep a modest cash fallback for smaller or cash-only situations.
Credit card
- Best for
- Hotels, larger shops and purchases that clearly display card acceptance.
- Check first
- Acceptance can vary. Carry another payment method and check foreign-use settings before departure.
Cash
- Best for
- Small stalls, traditional markets and situations where card acceptance is unclear.
- Check first
- Carry a modest amount, keep some separate and confirm the price before paying.
EasyCard
- Best for
- Many local-transit trips and participating small-payment locations.
- Check first
- It is not a universal pass for reserved rail, every bus or every shop. Check the operator.
Connectivity
Choose a setup that supports the phone functions you will actually need, not only the headline data allowance.
eSIM
eSIM
- Setup timing
- Often prepared before departure, then activated for the trip.
- Phone requirement
- An unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone.
- Best for
- Travelers who want to keep the physical SIM slot free and set up service themselves.
- Check first
- Confirm activation, tethering, ordinary voice calls and validity with the provider.
SIM
Physical SIM
- Setup timing
- Usually installed after purchase at an airport or city counter.
- Phone requirement
- An unlocked phone with the matching physical SIM slot.
- Best for
- Travelers who value counter assistance or prefer a removable card.
- Check first
- Store your home SIM safely and confirm voice, tethering and current terms before paying.
Getting around Taiwan
Think of EasyCard as a useful local tool, not a universal ticket for every transport operator or reserved journey.
MRT
Straightforward city travel where a metro network is available.
See a metro station guide →HSR
Fast intercity travel along Taiwan’s western corridor.
See an HSR connection guide →TRA
Conventional rail for city centers, regional journeys and eastern Taiwan.
See a TRA station guide →Bus
Important for local links, scenic areas and places beyond the rail network.
See a bus connection guide →Taxi / ride-hailing
A flexible option for luggage, late arrivals or the last short connection.
Choose transport after choosing the trip
MRT, local rail, high-speed rail, buses and taxis solve different journeys. Start with the destination and return plan, then use Taiwan Way’s itinerary and transport context for the route.
Everyday travel
A few habits around luggage, food, toilets and shared spaces make ordinary travel days much easier.
Use convenience stores as helpers, not assumptions
They can be useful for drinks, simple food and everyday purchases. Services vary by chain and branch, so check the signs or ask staff rather than assuming every location offers the same facility.
Use facilities when you see them
Plan toilet breaks around stations, museums, malls and major attractions. Public trash bins may not appear exactly when you need one, so keep a small bag for your own rubbish until you find an appropriate bin.
Prepare one useful ordering phrase
A simple phrase, the dish name and a clear dietary note are more useful than a long script. Taiwan Way’s Food Helper can build and pronounce practical Mandarin ordering phrases.
Keep courtesy simple
Queue where others queue, keep your voice moderate on public transport and follow posted rules. Tipping is not a routine requirement; check whether a service charge is already included before deciding anything extra.
Luggage & convenience
Check lockers before building a tight plan
Many major stations provide lockers, but location, size, availability, access hours and payment methods vary. Check the current station information and keep a backup if storing luggage is essential.
Weather and safety
Prepare calmly, follow official information and leave room to change plans when conditions change.
Check conditions, not just a seasonal average
Heat, heavy rain and mountain conditions can change the effort and safety of a day. Check the official forecast for the places you will actually visit and carry water or rain protection when appropriate.
Treat typhoon warnings as a reason to simplify
Follow official warnings and transport announcements. Do not travel toward exposed coasts, mountains or closed attractions to preserve an itinerary; move activities, stay indoors when advised and keep plans flexible.
Know one calm earthquake response
During strong shaking, drop, cover and hold on; protect your head and neck and avoid rushing outside while objects may be falling. Afterward, follow building staff and official instructions.
Save essential numbers
Police: 110. Fire and ambulance: 119. Emergency assistance from a mobile phone: 112. Save your accommodation address and travel-insurance contact details where you can reach them offline.
Continue planning with Taiwan Way
Travel Essentials gives you the baseline. Use the existing guides for the destination-specific decisions.
Choose where to goCompare Taiwan Way destination and attraction guides.Build a realistic dayUse practical timing, transport notes and food stops.Connect several daysSee how existing day itineraries fit into a longer trip.Eat and order with confidenceExplore dishes or open the ordering helper.Plan a night-market visitChoose a market with practical access and food context.