5 Essential Things You Need To Travel In Taiwan

So you’re thinking of traveling to Taiwan. Nice. Or maybe you’ve already arrived at the airport and are panic-stressing that you’ve forgotten something. Less nice but hey, at least you’re here! 

Whether you’re on your way or already enjoying life in this great country, there are a few things you need to travel in Taiwan.

Of course, there’s the basic Taiwan packing list that includes travel insurance, mosquito repellant (it’s a tropical island), and an umbrella (once again, it’s a tropical island). And while there’s numerous articles out there that detail what clothes, electronics, and even makeup you should bring, they all fail to address one simple aspect: what do local Taiwanese use?

We’re not saying that posts lacking this aspect don’t have their place, it’s just…well, including this information is kind of key to answering the query about what things you need to travel in Taiwan.

When government sites choose to focus only on specific Taiwan travel advice, it makes sense. But when other posts decide to leave out 5 of the most important things you need to travel in Taiwan? Something has to be done.

So, if you’re interested in reading a post that actually informs you on what you need to travel in Taiwan, this is that post.

What to prepare for Taiwan?

These are the 5 essential things you will need to be able to travel in Taiwan. Please note, #1 can only be purchased in Taiwan, so don’t panic if you can’t find it yet. Just make sure that you get it as soon as possible, otherwise no bicycle rental for you!

#1. An EasyCard

Ever wished that your transport card could do so much more? Congrats, you wished for Taiwan’s EasyCard. It’s capable of paying for:

• Youbike rental (inner city bicycle rental);
• MRT (Metro, Underground, however you say it) and bus services, and any mode of public transport;
• 7-11 and FamilyMart products and services (convenience stores serving food, printing services, rail and cinema ticket purchases, and so much more); and 
• Practically any purchase that accepts credit or debit cards.

Cards can be topped up at any 7-11, FamilyMart, or MRT station, using either cash or card. Additionally, EasyCards can also be purchased at any 7-11 or FamilyMart, which are found at nearly every corner across Taiwan.

They weren’t messing around when making the EasyCard so easy. 

#2. KKday App

In their own words, KKday is ‘the leading e-commerce travel platform’ for travelers. Since its creation in Taipei in 2014, this local tours and activities platform has spread to over 92 countries and 550 cities worldwide. It also has a website and app that supports over 7 languages (including English), available on GooglePlay and the Appstore.

With such popularity, both in Taiwan and abroad, it’s surprising to find that most travel sites don’t even mention Kkday on their Taiwan travel packing lists. 

Anyone who knows anything about Taiwan will know that KKday is THE app for travel. Often used as the main platform for booking tickets online for museums, exhibitions, and events, not having KKday is definitely going to make your trip in Taiwan much less exciting and more difficult.

What’s more, KKday almost always has a better discount to offer than if you bought tickets in person. That’s why, here at CovertProfession, we add it to most of our ExploreTaiwan-related posts. It’s just that important.

#3. LINE App

Originally started in Japan by South Korean company Naver, LINE is a telecommunications app that supports private messaging and (video) calls, making payments and sending money via LINE Pay, and creating and sharing stickers*, among many other features. 

It is also the main messaging communication app used in Taiwan, not just for personal use but also for businesses. As one of the main things you need to travel in Taiwan, the LINE app is commonly used to connect you with advertisements, like your gym sending notifications about when the building will be closed, or that nail salon confirming your appointment.

In short, having LINE is non-negotiable if you want to be able to travel and function in Taiwan. It’s therefore in your interest to put it on your list of what to prepare for Taiwan.

~ Note ~ LINE is available on GooglePlay and the AppStore, and supports English. There is also a function called LINE Wallet where, if you’re able to upload your card, you can use the app as a form of payment for most stores and businesses.

#4. Money – New Taiwan Dollars (NTD)

Okay, so money is probably the first thing you thought of when wondering about what to pack for Taiwan. While this necessity is fairly obvious, there are a few aspects about money in Taiwan that you might not be aware of.

Firstly, don’t let Taipei’s style and modern age fool you – Taiwan is still very much a cash-based society. In fact, many chain restaurants and establishments won’t even accept card, so it’s best to always have some cash on you.

Secondly, if you’re using a foreign card, there is a high chance of either or both of these events happening to you:

• You get charged a fee at an ATM when withdrawing cash.
• Your card isn’t accepted (because it’s not Taiwanese).

Unfortunately for travelers that don’t hold an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate), opening a bank account in Taiwan isn’t an option. And, perhaps more unfortunately for travelers that do have an ARC, sending money from a western bank account to a Taiwanese one counts as an international payment, so you may be charged heavily in the process.

That’s why finding the right ATM and international travel card is so important. Cathay United Bank, also the company behind Cathay Life Insurance, has never charged this author any fee when withdrawing cash from its ATM. This could be because they like Revolut (my international travel card of choice), or that they don’t charge foreign cards.

Either way, Cathay United Bank is a safe bet for foreigners to withdraw cash. Look for FamilyMart if you’re out and about in Taiwan, as Cathay ATMs are more frequently found inside these stores than 7-11s.

Thirdly, and hopefully you were aware of this before exchanging from your original currency, Taiwan uses New Taiwan Dollars (NTD). Though prices are often referred to in 元 like in China with their RMB, Taiwan has a different currency.

Another difference between Taiwan’s NTD and the currency of most other countries is that there are only whole numbers here. No cents or pence, or that kind of stuff. Yep, Taiwan is fairly simple when it comes to prices. The most common cash items that you’ll be seeing are notes in $1000, $500, and $100, and coins in 50, 10, 5, and 1.

#5. Translation App

Although Taiwan is aiming to officially become a bilingual country by 2030, not everyone speaks English or will be able to understand your accent. So travelers should definitely include a translation app on their Taiwan packing list.

While Google Translate is fairly reliable when it comes to translations, from personal experience there’s more reliable apps out there. Here’s a few apps to consider – free of course:

• Pleco
• Google Translate
• Waygo
• Papago

Conclusion

So, now you know what 5 things you need to travel in Taiwan. No matter the season, this list of what to prepare for Taiwan is always going to be required. Save yourself the hassle of realizing this when you arrive and make sure to put an EasyCard, a KKday app, a LINE app, a translation app, and plenty of NTD onto your Taiwan packing list.