Whether you are coming to Taiwan for three days or for three years, it can be hard getting used to a new country, and new culture, and a new way of living. To help you out, we have prepared this guide to help you survive and thrive in this amazing country.
Planning your trip to Taiwan?
Here are some top travel tips for you:

• Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn when it is not too hot or cold and less rainy
• How to get there: Plane tickets via Trip.com
• Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
• Book tours and activities in Taiwan on Klook
• Stay connected with a local SIM
• Rent a car to explore distant sights

Table of Contents

• Basic Taiwan Travel Tips:
• Hotels in Taiwan:
• Tours in Taiwan:
• ​How to get around in Taiwan:
• Basic Living Tips:
  • Q: ​What is the power voltage used in Taiwan?
  • Q: Where is the best place to exchange currency in Taiwan?
  • Q: Do Taiwanese people use credit cards or an electronic wallet?
  • Q: Can I get a SIM card in Taiwan?
  • Q: Is the internet censored in Taiwan?
  • Q: What Apps should I download that are helpful in Taiwan?
  • Q: Do most Taiwanese people speak English?
  • Q: Is Taiwan safe?
  • Q: Do I need to tip in Taiwan?
  • Q: Are there special prices for foreigners in Taiwan?
  • Q: Is it easy to get ripped off as a foreigner in Taiwan?
  • Q: Are Taiwanese people nice to foreigners?
  • Q: What cultural considerations or taboos are there in Taiwan?
  • Q: Is Taiwan a poor third-world country?
  • Q: What system of measurement does Taiwan use?
  • Q: Is Taiwan child/wheelchair friendly?
  • Q: Are there plenty of public restrooms in Taiwan?
  • Q: Are there public water fountains in Taiwan?
  • Q: Are there plenty of trash bins around Taiwan?
  • Q: What is the weather like in Taiwan?
  • Q: What should I wear in Taiwan?
    • Winter:
    • Spring:
    • Summer:
    • Fall:
  • Q: Is Taiwan part of China?
  • Q: Is Taiwan a free country?
  • Q: Does Taiwan have good medical care?
  • Q: What is the ultimate survival outpost in Taiwan?
• Transportation:
  • Q: What side of the road does Taiwan drive on?
  • Q: What is the best way to get around Taiwan?
  • Q: What public transportation options are there in Taiwan?
  •  Q: What is the best way to get around by yourself in Taiwan?
  • Q: What are other forms of transportation in Taiwan?
  • Q: How expensive are taxis in Taiwan?
  •  Q: Where can I rent a scooter or car?
  • ​Q: Do I need an international license to rent a car or scooter?
  • Q: How much does it cost to rent a scooter or car in Taiwan?
• ​Tourist Attractions:
  • Q: What are the top tourist attractions around Taipei?
    • 1-day tour:
    • 3-day tour:
  • Q: What are the top tourist attractions in Taiwan?
  • Q: What is the best tour company for foreigners in Taiwan?
  • Q: What is the best site to book hotels in Taiwan?
• ​​Food and Restaurants:
  • Q: What kind of food do Taiwanese people eat?
  • Q: What is the typical price of a meal in Taiwan?
  • Q: Where can I buy groceries in Taiwan?
  • Q: What foreign restaurant chains are there in Taiwan?
  • ​Q: What are the best restaurant Guides for Taipei?
• ​Living in Taiwan long-term:
  • Q: Do I need to know Chinese to live in Taiwan?
  • Q: How do I find work in Taiwan?
  • Q: How hard is it to get a visa in Taiwan?
  • Q: What is the work culture like in Taiwan?
  • Q: How is healthcare in Taiwan?
  • Q: How do I find an apartment to rent in Taiwan?
  • Q: Can foreigners buy property or real estate in Taiwan?
  • Q: What is it like to buy a house in Taiwan?
  • Q: What is it like to study or attend university in Taiwan?
  • Q: What is banking like in Taiwan?
  • Q: How do I start a business in Taiwan?
  • Q: Can I get married in Taiwan?
  • Q: What are Taiwanese schools like?
  • Q: How much are Taiwan's taxes?
• ​Attractions in Taiwan:
• Activities in Taiwan:

 
 Basic Taiwan Travel Tips:

• There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
• Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions, such as for street food, still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here. 
• Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiFi, such as from Klook here, so you can stay connected and don’t get lost in the city.
• If you are from a country that does not have a 90-day visa-free program with Taiwan, consider getting your visa sorted with Ivisa.com. You can also check out our immigration FAQ here. 
• Get travel insurance in case of unforeseen events. You can compare prices on Insubuy here. 
• The electrical voltage is 110V.
• Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here. 
• For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here.

Hotels in Taiwan:Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
Tours in Taiwan:There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here, or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. 
Here are some of the most popular tours of Taiwan on TripAdvisor:

1. Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei
2. The 10 Tastings of Taipei With Locals: Private Street Food Tour
3. Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup
4. Full-Day Private Custom Taipei City Tour
5. Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei
6. Half-Day Muslim Friendly Tour in Taipei City
7. Private Taipei Tour for Families

​
How to get around in Taiwan:Taiwan’s transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei, below:
By Train: It gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount EasyCard to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as Sun Moon Lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. ​
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. ​

If you only have a few days in Taiwan and you want to go somewhere outside of Taipei, you should definitely go to Taroko National Park. On an island full of mountains, rain forests, beaches, and abounding natural beauty, Taroko might just take the top spot as the most beautiful scenic area in Taiwan.  Taroko National Park is well known for its amazing marble cliffs and canyons carved out by the Liwu River. It is also a popular spot for hiking, rafting, and river tracing. If you have the time, come to the East Coast and see it. If you don’t have time, then make some time!

Taroko National Park July 2025 Update: Due to recent earthquakes, the road through Taroko Gorge up to Hehuanshan is open if you have your own vehicle, but only five times a day. You need to leave the park by 5:30 PM. The main road has been repaved, but there are parts of the road that are just dirt or covered in potholes. Currently, the Taroko National Park visitor’s center and Tianxiang trails are open. But there are a few spots along the side of the road in Taroko Gorge where you can take photos. Again, all trails and everything else except Tianxiang and the visitor center are closed. The Swallow Grotto road and Eternal Spring road are also blocked off.
Even Qingshui Cliff lookout is closed and there is nowhere to park there.
There is a lot of rock moving and reconstruction to do; it could take another 10 years for Taroko to fully reopen.
For recent announcments, check out the Taroko National Park Website here. 
However you can check out a list of other things you can do and see in Hualien besides Taroko Gorge here. 

For a 2025 update of current conditions in the park, check out our blog post here.

​History and Background:

Taroko National Park is well known for its  marble cliffs and canyons, and is also known as "The Marble Gorge." Millions of years ago, the rock we see today was sediment at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but oceanic and tectonic pressure turned it into limestone, and later into marble. Later the Eurasian plate was uplifted where Taiwan is today, and a gorge was cut out of the limestone thanks to the Liwu River. 

Taroko means "human being," from the Truku tribal language. Originally the Tupido Tribe settled in the area of what is now Tianxiang Taiti mesa. They built the Tupido Tribe Trail which was only 30 cm wide, and resided there until they were massacred by the Japanese in 1914. In 1917, the Japanese expanded the original trail made by the Tupido Tribe to 1.5 M and forced aboriginal tribesmen to carry goods along the trail to the east coast. This is now the Zhuilu Old Trail. Currently only 3km of the trail is open to the public. The Japanese created a national park in the Area in 1937, which was disestablished by the ROC in 1945, and then reenstated in as a national park in 1986.

When to visit?
Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season lasts from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. 
Sponsored Links

Where to stay?
Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center.  If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge. 
We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay 
​(Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain.
You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By Car: From Taipei, Take National Highway 5 to Yilan and then drive on the Suhua Highway 9 to Hualien. A few miles before Hualien City, the gorge will be on your right.
By Train: Take the train to Hualien station, and from there you can rent a scooter or car, or take a tour bus to the gorge.
​For more travel information see here.
You can book tickets to travel to Hualien via inter-city bus on Klook here.  
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.

Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

How to get around in Taroko Gorge:
As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Tainan by taking the train, inter-city bus, local bus, biking, or just walking. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. 
By Bus: You can book a shuttle bus to Taroko Gorge from Hualien on Klook here.
Scooter Rental: Looking for scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options.
You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
Car Rental: If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. 
You can also check out our car rental guide here. 

Tours: 
You can find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, River Rafting, Whale Watching, Snorkeling, Diving, ATV / 4-wheeling, Paintballing, Farm Dream Estates Zoo, Water Biking, Oyster Harvesting, Shrimp Harvesting, Indigenous Experience, Glamping, Cycling, Ziplining and much more on Klook here or KKday here. 

You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

Hours: 8:30AM-5PM (Zhuilu old trail is usually open from 7AM to 10PM, but for now is closed indefinitely).
The road through Taroko Gorge up to Hehuanshan is open if you have your own vehicle, but only three times a day: 8 AM, 12 Noon, and 4 PM. You need to leave the park by 5:30 PM. There are many parts of the road that are just dirt or covered in potholes. Currently, only the Taroko National Park visitor’s center is open. 
However you can check out a list of other things you can do and see in Hualien besides Taroko Gorge here. ​

Flying a Drone? 
​Apply for a drone permit here.

Price: Free! (Except Zhuilu old trail, which is 200 NT per adult. See below for more info.)

​Map: Please see below:

Baiyang Falls are a beautiful set of waterfalls in Taroko National Park. The trail is only 2 KM long and is flat and paved with no steps. It is an easy and relaxing way to enjoy some of the best scenery in the park. 
​(Please note that due to a recent earthquake, Baiyang Falls Trail has been closed indefinitley). However you can check out a list of other things you can do and see in Hualien besides Taroko Gorge here. ​​

Background:
Taroko National Park is well known for its  marble cliffs and canyons, and is also known as "The Marble Gorge." Millions of years ago, the rock we see today was sediment at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but oceanic and tectonic pressure turned it into limestone, and later into marble. Later the Eurasian plate was uplifted where Taiwan is today, and a gorge was cut out of the limestone thanks to the Liwu River. 

Taroko means "human being," from the Truku tribal language. Originally the Tupido Tribe settled in the area of what is now Tianxiang Taiti mesa. They built the Tupido Tribe Trail which was only 30 cm wide, and resided there until they were massacred by the Japanese in 1914. In 1917, the Japanese expanded the original trail made by the Tupido Tribe to 1.5 M and forced aboriginal tribesmen to carry goods along the trail to the east coast. This is now the Zhuilu Old Trail. Currently only 3km of the trail is open to the public. The Japanese created a national park in the Area in 1937, which was disestablished by the ROC in 1945, and then reinstated in as a national park in 1986.

The road to Baiyang Waterfall was created by the Taipower Company in an effort to build a hydropower reservoir in Taroko Gorge. However the project was not completed, to protect the natural scenery in the area. The roads and tunnels left over from the project now make up the current trail, to what would normally be an arduous hike through impossible terrain. 
Baiyang Waterfall is 220 meters high, and the highest waterfall in Taiwan to fall off one sheer cliff. 

When to visit?
Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. 

Where to stay?
Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center.  If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge. 
We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain.
You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

How to get there:
By Car: From Taipei, Take National Highway 5 to Yilan and then drive on the Suhua Highway 9 to Hualien. A few miles before Hualien City, the gorge will be on your right. Keeping going until you reach the Baiyang Waterfall hike about 20 KM up the road. You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
By Train: Take the train to Hualien station, and from there you can rent a scooter or car, or take a tour bus to the gorge, and get off at Baiyang Waterfall station. You can book tickets to travel to Hualien via inter-city bus on Klook here.  
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
​For more travel information see here.

Tours: 
You can book a tour to Baiyang Falls on KKday here.
Find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. 

Hours: 
24/7
(Please note that due to a recent earthquake, Baiyang Falls Trail has been closed indefinitley).
However you can check out a list of other things you can do and see in Hualien besides Taroko Gorge here.  
​
​Map: 
Please see below: