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Taiwan Travel Guide & Itinerary
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Taiwan, positioned between the Asian continent's southeast coast and the Pacific Ocean's western boundary, between Japan and the Philippines, and in the center of the East Asian Island arc, is a critical communication connection in the Asia-Pacific region. China, officially the Republic of China, is an East Asian country. It is located in the northwest Pacific Ocean, at the intersection of the East and South China Seas, with the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south.
Formosa, Taiwan's biggest island, covers 35,808 square kilometers (13,826 square miles), with mountain ranges dominating the eastern two-thirds and plains dominating the western third, which is home to the country's densely populated populace. Taipei, along with New Taipei City and Keelung, constitute Taiwan's largest metropolitan region. Other significant cities include Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Taiwan, with a population of around 23.9 million people, is one of the world's most densely populated countries.
Taiwan is a semi-tropical island in East Asia, one of the world's most exciting and rapidly changing regions. Like many other places in Asia, Taiwan is densely populated and highly developed in terms of economics, technology and transport. Its people are highly educated and well-traveled.
Let's get around
Taiwan's cities and most of tourist attractions are linked by a network of secure, efficient, and reasonably priced transportation. However, because the Central Mountain Range runs down the middle of the island like a spine, there are considerably more alternatives for going up and down the island than there are for going across. If you intend to travel around Taiwan, be prepared to take a combination of train, high-speed rail, boat, and bus. The Blueprint for Net-Zero Emissions in 2050 is one example of how steps are being made to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road.
Currently, only 8% of city and intercity buses are electric. Still, the government has vowed to introduce 1000 electric buses annually from 2023 while removing up to 11,000 diesel vehicles by 2030, with the target that all buses will run on electricity by 2030. Most taxis are not electric, but operators also receive incentives to go green.
Transportation that is easily accessibleIn recent years, Taiwan's rail systems have taken some efforts toward accessibility. Elevators at almost all metro stations are equipped with braille buttons, speakers, intercoms, and handrails. There are also wheelchair waiting rooms and tactile tiles laid on stations and near staircases. Elevators and barrier-free seats are available in dedicated carriages on the HSR and TRA. Staff are available on all three systems to assist impaired passengers. Buses are somewhat less convenient. Only a small percentage of intercity buses are barrier-free, albeit in major cities such as Kaohsiung and Taipei, bus drivers will lower a ramp for senior passengers or wheelchair users. Priority seats and disabled parking are available once on board. You can get help from the Taiwan Access for All Association.
With an EasyCard, pay for public transportationEasyCard is Taiwan's contactless smart card used to pay for public transportation on city buses and the metro. At any metro station or convenience store, you may top off the card, which costs NT$100. The majority of TRA trains, as well as certain intercity buses and taxis, accept EasyCard. The Puyuma Express, Taroko Express, and tourist trains are examples of the latter. 10% savings is offered to passengers using the EasyCard for trains under 70 kilometers (43 miles).
Few things to know
1. What is the currency and conversion in Taiwan?
The New Taiwan dollar is the official currency of Taiwan. The currency code is TWD, commonly abbreviated as NT$ or NTD$. The most frequently used denominations are the NTD$100, NTD$500, and NTD$1000 bills.
1 TWD = 0.033 USD2. What is the language in Taiwan?
Mandarin Chinese has been the official language of Taiwan since 1945 and is the most spoken language in the country. It's remarkably unchanged from the mainland variant of Mandarin that immigrants brought there, primarily in the 1940s, as they escaped political and military upheaval in that country.
3. Are there many ATMs and Money Exchange?
Taiwan has ATMs conveniently located at airports, convenience stores, and on most streets. You can withdraw cash in New Taiwan Dollars using international credit cards like Visa and Mastercard. It's important to inform your bank of your travel plans beforehand to avoid any issues with suspicious activity. You can exchange major foreign currencies at airports, banks, shopping malls, or hotels. Standardized exchange charges and official rates are used almost everywhere, but banks usually offer slightly better deals than hotels. Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, in Taipei cities. There is a reasonable flat NT$30.00 service fee for changing currency at banks. Traveler's cheques are still an option for added security during long-term travel, but with the ease of ATMs, digital mobile payments, and money changers, they are not necessary.
4. What is the time zone in Taiwan?
Time Zone Abbreviations Taiwan Time - is abbreviated as CST (China Standard Time)
UTC - GMT OffsetTaiwan is GMT/UTC + 8h during Standard Time
Daylight Saving Time UsageTaiwan does not utilize daylight saving time.
Taiwan observes China Standard Time all year. There are no Daylight Saving Time clock changes.5. What is the climate in Taiwan?
Taiwan's climate is subtropical, except for the very southern part of the island, which is tropical. Summers are long and hot, lasting from April or May to September or October.
6. What is the telephone code in Taiwan?
The international code for calls into Taiwan is +886
7. What is the emergency service in Taiwan?
Numbers for police, ambulance, fire and rescue services: Police Tel: 110Fire and Ambulance Tel: 119Coast Guard Tel: 118
Note: Emergency number 112 can be used from mobile networks.
Community Services Centre Tel: 0800 024 111
Directory Enquiries (in English) Tel: 106
Overseas Operator Tel: 100
Foreign Affairs Police (English-speaking) Tel: 02 2556 6007
Traffic Information Tel: 168
Weather Forecast Tel: 166
Travel Information Hotline (24-hour) Tel: 0800 011 7658. What is the driving mode in Taiwan?
In Taiwan, they drive on the right side of the road and measure distance and speed limits in kilometers. It is technically illegal to turn right on red. To travel to the cities, it's recommended to use affordable and smooth metro or railway systems. Additionally, several towns have city-specific transit systems. Taiwan has five urban transit systems: Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro, Taichung Metro, Taoyuan Metro, and Kaohsiung Rapid Transit.
9. What is the electricity voltage in Taiwan?
The voltage in Taiwan is 110 V, the same voltage used in the United States of America, Canada, and Japan.
Some highlights in Taiwan
Airlines that fly to Taiwan
These are some of the airlines flying to Taiwan from around the world. Major airlines offer direct flights to Taiwan from all over the world. There are also several connecting flights to Taiwan depending on what countries you depart to which airline you are flying with. In some airlines, you may consider having layovers too.
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