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Asia

Taiwan

4 guides across 1 destination — where to go, when, what it costs and what to eat.

Where to go

Destinations in Taiwan

The illuminated entrance arch of Raohe Street Tourist Night Market in Taipei at night, ringed with paper lanterns and surrounded by neon shop signs and crowds.
Taipei
Best autumn and early spring
Before you go

Practical essentials for Taiwan

Money

New Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Language

Mandarin Chinese, with Taiwanese Hokkien widely spoken; English signage is good on the MRT but spoken English is limited.

Power

Type A/B, 110V 60Hz

Getting around

An EasyCard (or iPASS) covers the Taipei MRT, city buses and convenience stores, and high-speed rail runs the length of the west coast.

Tipping

Not practised — the metered taxi fare and the printed bill are the whole amount, though smarter restaurants add a 10% service charge.

Tap water

Tap water is treated but is not drunk straight from the tap; boiled or bottled water is the norm and free refill stations are common.

Driving

Right-hand side; you need a 1949 International Driving Permit plus your national licence, validated at a local Motor Vehicles Office on arrival.

Emergency

110 police, 119 fire and ambulance

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

Latest

Recent stories from Taiwan

The ceremonial plaza of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, with manicured gardens and the orange-roofed National Theater and Concert Hall on either side under a blue sky
Destinations

Taipei for First-Timers: Night Markets, Hot Springs and a Tower Above the Clouds

A complete first-visit guide to Taiwan's capital — what to see, what to eat, which night market to choose and the day trip everyone should make.

Taipei · 2 min
Taipei 101 rising above the Taipei skyline at golden hour, seen across forested hills with silver grass in the foreground.
The List

Taipei in Eight Frames: The City's Most Photogenic Corners, Ranked

Eight Taipei frames worth the climb, the wait and the weather - ranked, with the hour each one actually works.

Taipei · 11 min
The approach to the National Palace Museum in Taipei seen from its steps on a grey damp day, a broad stone plaza flanked by clipped cypresses running down to the white ceremonial archway, two visitors sharing an umbrella at the centre and green hills behind.
Itineraries

Taipei When It Pours: An Itinerary That Never Gets Wet

Plum rains, typhoon bands and months of winter drizzle — and a parallel indoor Taipei of imperial treasure, underground streets and volcanic baths that is genuinely better wet.

Taipei · 14 min
The pedestrian crossing at the heart of Ximending in Taipei at night, a dense crowd flowing between illuminated signboards, a curved screen wrapping the corner building and neon column advertisements in traditional Chinese on either side.
Stays

A First-Timer's Guide to Choosing Your Base in Taipei

Skyline glamour in Xinyi, night-market energy in Ximending or steaming springs in Beitou — Taipei's districts offer completely different trips. Here is how to choose.

Taipei · 2 min