Practical A–Z

Visa

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Only a passport (valid for at least 6 months) and a return or onward flight ticket are required. Entry is uncomplicated and quick — Taiwan has one of the most efficient border control systems in Asia.

Important: Taiwan and China are separate entities for visa purposes. A Taiwan stamp in the passport has no impact on China visas and vice versa. Since 2024, Taiwan only stamps passports upon request — you will receive a separate entry slip by default.

Customs

Allowances: 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, goods up to 20,000 TWD (approx. 590€). Importing fresh fruit, meat, and plants is strictly prohibited and subject to heavy fines (up to 1 million TWD!). Luggage is partially X-rayed.

New Taiwan Dollar (TWD / NT$)

Exchange Rate (Reference 2025/2026): 1 EUR ≈ 34 TWD / 1 USD ≈ 32 TWD

Coins: 1, 5, 10, 50 TWD. Bills: 100 (red), 200 (green), 500 (brown), 1,000 (blue), 2,000 (purple).

Withdrawing Money & Payment

• ATMs: Everywhere — 7-Eleven and FamilyMart have ATMs with English instructions (over 12,000 branches!). Visa and Mastercard accepted. Fees: usually only those from your home bank. Withdrawal up to 20,000 TWD per transaction.
• EasyCard (悠遊卡): The most important card in Taiwan! Rechargeable for metro, bus, train, convenience stores, some restaurants, taxis, and even parking fees. Buy at the airport or any metro station (100 TWD deposit, non-refundable). Recharge at any cashier. Save on exchange fees with a DKB or Wise card.
• Credit Cards: Accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops. At night markets and street stalls: cash only! Always plan to have some cash on hand.
• Tipping: In Taiwan, NOT customary! No tips in restaurants, taxis, or hotels. In upscale restaurants, a 10% service charge is sometimes automatically added.

Medical Care

Taiwan has an excellent healthcare system — one of the best in Asia, on par with Western standards. Hospitals in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung have English-speaking staff, modern equipment, and short waiting times. Pharmacies (with English-speaking staff) are everywhere. Nonetheless: Travel health insurance is highly recommended, as treatments for non-Taiwanese can be expensive (no access to the Taiwanese healthcare system NHI).

Vaccinations

No mandatory vaccinations. Recommended: Hepatitis A (for intensive street food consumption), refresh standard vaccinations (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio). Japanese Encephalitis is only relevant for longer stays in rural areas.

Water & Food Hygiene

Tap water must be boiled (this is done in hotels and restaurants). Bottled water: 20 TWD (0.60€) at 7-Eleven. Many public buildings, temples, and train stations have free water dispensers — bring a water bottle! Street food is safe — hygiene standards at Taiwan's night markets are significantly higher than in most Southeast Asian countries.

Natural Hazards

• Typhoons (July–September): Taiwan is in the typhoon zone. 3–5 typhoons hit the island per year. The government issues timely warnings and can declare “typhoon days” (颱風假) — then offices, schools, and shops close, public transport is suspended. Flights are canceled or rerouted. If a typhoon is announced: Stay in the hotel, have snacks and water ready, follow weather warnings from the Central Weather Administration (CWA).
• Earthquakes: Taiwan is on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Minor earthquakes (below 4.0) are frequent and barely noticeable. Stronger quakes occur occasionally (most recently Hualien 2024, 7.4 magnitude). Hotels have evacuation plans — inquire at check-in. In case of an earthquake: Get under a sturdy table, away from windows, leave the building after the all-clear.

SIM Card & Internet

Taiwan has one of the best network coverages in Asia — 4G/5G even in the mountains, tunnels, and countryside. Buy tourist SIM cards at the airport (arrival hall):

• Providers: Chunghwa Telecom (best network, most expensive option), Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone
• Prices: 5 days unlimited 4G: 300 TWD (9€). 15 days: 700 TWD (20€). 30 days: 1,000 TWD (29€).
• Alternative: Buy eSIM online in advance (e.g., Airalo, Holafly) — from 8€ for 7 days.

WiFi

Free WiFi everywhere: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Starbucks, metro stations, HSR trains, public places. iTaiwan is the public WiFi network — register with your passport at the airport and use it throughout the country.

Useful Apps

• Google Maps: Works perfectly, including public transport, buses, and walking directions
• Google Translate: Lifesaver! The camera function translates Chinese menus, signs, and menus in real-time
• 台北捷運 Go (Taipei Metro Go): Official metro app for Taipei
• Taiwan Railway (台鐵e訂通): Book TRA train tickets online
• T Express (台灣高鐵): Buy and manage HSR tickets
• Uber: Works in Taipei and Kaohsiung

Language

The official language is Mandarin Chinese (with traditional characters, not simplified like on the mainland). English is increasingly spoken in Taipei, especially by younger people. In the countryside and smaller cities, less English is spoken — but friendliness compensates for any language barrier. All metro and train signs are bilingual (Chinese/English). Older Taiwanese sometimes speak Japanese or Hokkien (Taiwanese).

Important Words & Phrases

One of the Safest Countries in the World

Taiwan is extremely safe. The crime rate is one of the lowest worldwide — significantly lower than in most European countries. Pickpocketing is rare, violent crimes against tourists are practically unknown. You can walk alone at night in any city, leave your wallet in a café (you will very likely get it back), and leave your luggage on the platform.

What to Still Watch Out For?

Emergency Numbers

110 — Police
119 — Fire & Rescue
0800-024-111 — Tourist Hotline (24/7, multilingual, also for translation help!)

The Taiwanese Tourist Hotline is invaluable: 24 hours, 7 days, in English, Japanese, and Korean. Call for any problem — from lost luggage to finding a doctor.