Taiwan Useful Information

I’ve been to Taiwan twice: the first time on holiday, and the second time when my partner was studying Mandarin in Tainan. I stayed for two months, which gave me the chance to not just travel around but also live there for a while.

To me, Taiwan feels like a mix between Japan and South Korea. It has the openness and lively social atmosphere you find in Korea, but with the friendliness and structure of Japan. That combination is why I love it so much. Taiwan has vibrant cities with endless temples, but its nature is equally incredible, definitely worth adding hiking and wildlife to your itinerary.

Arrival in Taiwan

Most travellers will arrive at Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei). It’s very straightforward to navigate, and immigration is surprisingly fast, I was out in less than 20 minutes (and yes, they still give passport stamps, which I love).

The airport is about an hour from Taipei Main Station, the city’s central hub for trains and MRT connections. To get there, head to the basement level and take the Airport MRT. You’ll find two options:

• Express line (purple) - about 45 minutes.

• Commuter line (blue) - about 1 hour, with more stops.

Both cost  around 160 TWD one way.

EasyCard

Definitely get an EasyCard from the machines (500 TWD: 100 TWD for the card + 400 TWD credit). You can’t load a smaller amount at the beginning, so it has to be 500 TWD. The EasyCard is basically your golden ticket, it works for metro, buses, and even in convenience stores across the whole country. You can top it up at the train station ticket machines or convenience stores like FamilyMart and 7-Eleven.

Cash vs. Card

Unlike many other countries in Asia, Taiwan still runs heavily on cash. You’ll need it for MRT tickets, train tickets, and smaller shops or food stalls. Some bigger places take card, but don’t count on it everywhere. Most ATMs in convenience stores charged me 3 euros for withdrawal, while most other banks, such as Bank of Taiwan and Taiwan Cooperative Bank, didn't charge me anything. That said, foreign cards aren't widely accepted either as I often had issues paying with card outside of Taipei (even with WISE).

Getting Around in Taiwan

From Taipei Main Station, you can easily hop on the MRT to explore the city or transfer to high-speed trains (HSR) and regular trains for trips around Taiwan. The HSR makes longer distances very manageable, e.g., Taipei to Kaohsiung in under 3 hours, however, they are significantly more expensive than the regular trains.

You can look up the train schedules and buy train tickets on these websites:

https://tip.railway.gov.tw/tra-tip-web/tip?lang=EN_US

https://en.thsrc.com.tw

Make sure to buy the high speed rail tickets in advance as seated tickets sell out very fast (otherwise, it will be a standing ticket). Since there are a lot of HSR trains running, standing tickets can be bought before boarding too. From Taipei to Kaohsiung, it only takes 2.5h. 

How to Use the HSR

I’ll be honest, figuring out how to take the HSR (High-Speed Rail) from Taipei Main Station was a little confusing at first (though once you’ve done it, it’s actually really straightforward).

Since I’d bought my tickets online, I needed to retrieve them from one of the ticket machines. Long story short: finding that machine was a bit of a nightmare. The signs seemed to point in every direction, and I ended up asking multiple people for help. Just note that you can’t pick up your tickets at the regular TRA (Taiwan Railways Administration) counters in the main hall, the HSR area is a bit hidden away. If you can’t find it, it’s best to just ask someone, people are friendly and used to travellers getting lost there.

Once you’ve got your tickets, follow the signs for the HSR platform, and you’ll be led directly to the trains. After that, everything runs like clockwork (and at 300 km/h).

Booking HSR Tickets

The main reason to book HSR tickets in advance is to get a discount and secure a seat. The official Taiwan High-Speed Rail website sometimes offers up to 35% off, depending on how early you book. You can book 28 days in advance for weekdays, 29 days for Saturdays, and 30 days for Sundays, starting at 12:00 AM (Taiwan time).

However, if you book online, you’ll still need to print your physical ticket once you’re in Taiwan. To do this, bring your reservation number and the passport you used for booking to any 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or HSR station. There’s no fee to print at the HSR machines or ticket counters, but I recommend doing it at least 30 minutes before departure, just in case you have trouble finding the right spot (like I did).

Booking ahead does mean you have to commit to a specific train time, which isn’t always ideal for travellers who want flexibility. If you prefer to stay spontaneous, you can simply buy HSR tickets on the spot at the station before boarding. These will be full price, but you’ll have the freedom to travel whenever you like.

If all seats are sold out, you can always get a non-reserved ticket and sit in the non-reserved cars (10–12). If those are full, you might have to stand, but at least you’ll still get to your destination quickly!

Costs in Taiwan

Taiwan isn’t the most expensive country in East Asia, think less expensive than Japan, but pricier than places like Vietnam or Indonesia. Overall, traveling here can be quite affordable if you plan smartly and stick to local options.

Transportation

Public transportation is likely to be your biggest expense. The High-Speed Rail (HSR) is super convenient but pricey, a one-way ticket across the island can cost up to €40. The regular commuter and express trains are cheaper but still add up (expect around €25-30 for longer routes). While that might sound reasonable, if you’re city-hopping around Taiwan, these fares can quickly eat into your budget.

Accommodation

Hotel prices really depend on where you are. Taipei is definitely more expensive, even hostels can cost quite a bit compared to other cities, with a dorm costing 20-25 dollars per night. 

In contrast, accommodation in southern cities like Tainan are much more budget-friendly, with dorm beds or guesthouses sometimes going for under 10 dollars per night.

Food

Food in Taiwan is one of the highlights, not because it’s good (I'm terribly sorry, but I'm not a big fan of Taiwanese food), but because it’s cheap.

If you stick to local eateries and night markets, expect to pay anywhere from 45-150 TWD per meal. Local breakfast shops are even cheaper, often between 15-35 TWD. And if you’re feeling lazy, 7-Eleven and FamilyMart meals are both convenient and affordable, usually 60–110 TWD.

SIM Cards and Internet

This was a surprise for me: SIM card prices have gone up quite a lot since my first trip. For unlimited data for 30 days, you’ll pay around 1600 TWD. I ended up choosing an eSIM instead, which was cheaper and more convenient. For 20GB valid for 30 days, I paid 710 TWD.

Luckily, most hotels, cafés, and even convenience stores have solid WiFi, so you don’t need endless data unless you’re working remotely.

Safety in Taiwan

This part is important, especially for women traveling alone. While Taiwan is very safe in terms of theft and crime, it’s one of the countries in Asia where I personally felt the most uncomfortable in terms of harassment.

When I first visited alone, men often came up asking for pictures or my Instagram. Sounds harmless, but during those “pictures” they’d try to cross boundaries. It wasn’t constant, but it happened enough that I always kept my guard up in less crowded or poorly lit areas, especially at night.

That said, Taiwan has some excellent safety measures in place, like “Safe Waiting Zones” for women in MRT and train stations, which are well-lit and monitored by cameras.

2025 update: Safety in Taiwan actually seems to have improved. I’ve been spending most of my time in a student area in Tainan, where there are people from all kinds of nationalities, and overall I’ve had fewer uncomfortable experiences than during my previous visit. (Or maybe it’s just because I’m losing my youthful charm, kidding, of course).