Taiwan, shaped roughly like a sweet potato, has more than 23 million population and is an island nation of about 36,000 square kilometers located southeastern coast of mainland China, southwest of Okinawa and north of the Philippines. Taipei, as the capital city, is the political, economic, and cultural center of Taiwan. Its nearest airport, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, can be accessed via over 190 non-stop and direct flights from 56 major cities around the world.
TIME ZONE: UTC/GMT
+8 hours
VISA REQUIREMENT: Countries eligible for Visa-exempt entry should consult with Bureau of Consular Affairs' (BOCA) website at https://www.boca.gov.tw/mp-2.html
LANGUAGE
The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese, but Fujianese descent is also widely spoken by southern Taiwanese. The most popular business language in Taiwan is English.
CLIMATE
The average temperature in Taipei in May for a typical day ranges from a high of 27°C (81°F) to a low of 23°C (73°F). Some would describe it as pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze. In May, there's a 58% chance of rain on an average day. Before you travel, it is highly suggested to keep an eye on weather forecast by visiting The Central Weather Bureau (CWB).
CURRENCY
The local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD). Major foreign currencies can be exchanged at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). Paper money is currently available in NT$100, 200, 500 and 1,000 bills. Coins have NT$1, 5, 10 and 50 denominations. Major credit cards (Visa & MasterCard) are accepted in many shops. Traveler's cheques might be accepted only in tourist-oriented shops and hotels. Purchases in night markets are mostly cash-only.
ELECTRICITY & WATER
Taiwan uses electric current of 110 volts at 60 Hz. The power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. You will need a suitable plug adapter if your plug won't fit in a Taiwanese power outlet. Please Note that a plug adapter changes the actual shape of the plug on your device to fit into a plug outlet found in Taiwan, but is unable to convert the voltage from 110 volts to a different voltage, some electronic devices may require a voltage converter to function properly in Taiwan, it’s important to check their voltage and frequency before traveling.
Drinking tap water in Taipei is safe ONLY after boiling. Most hotels provide boiled drinking water. Bottled water is easily available at convenience stores, which are flooded with corners of Taipei city and opens 24/7.
GETTING AROUND TAIPEI CITY
MRT (Metro Taipei)
A clean, comprehensive, and safe subway system makes most famous Taipei attractions easily accessible. There are automatic ticket machines at each station. You may also purchase a ticket by the counter. Or if you have an EasyCard pass the card over the EasyCard sensor area on fare gates both entering and exiting the MRT stations, with fares deducted from the card. Please note that eating, drinking and gum chewing while in the stations or on the trains is extremely prohibited.
Bus
Along with the Taipei MRT, the bus system accepts the EasyCard. Tap when boarding and leaving—or pay with cash when boarding. The normal fare to travel by bus in Taipei is NT$15.
EasyCard
An Easycard is essential for travelling in Taipei. EasyCard is a prepaid transportation card in Taiwan that can be used to ride MRT, trains, buses, ferries, public bikes, and more. Easycard can be purchased at all MRT stations and convenience stores such as 7/11 or FamilyMart generally for NT$100. Cards are issued with no balance, so be sure to recharge the card with some credit after purchase. All credit can be later refunded at MRT stations.
Uber
Uber is always available in Taipei city. You can use Uber APP to reserve a ride with Uber in Taipei.
TAXI
Hailing a cab is very convenient in Taipei. All taxis in Taiwan are in yellow and mostly are CASH-ONLY. Charges are NT$85 for the first 1.25km and NT$5 for each additional 200 meters. Taxis in Taipei are safe, convenient, friendly and easy to locate, and almost no scams or cheating. They always use the meter unless you have made special arrangements for a tour.
TIPPING
In general, you don't have to tip waiters/waitresses and taxi drivers. In some international hotels, tipping hotel porters and maids will be appreciated. Full-service restaurants will impose a 10% service charge automatically. All other tipping is optional.