Cash is king in Taiwan, especially for night markets, small eateries, and local transport, so carrying New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) is essential. For convenience, buy an EasyCard or iPass at convenience stores for public transit and small purchases. Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted in hotels and major stores, while LINE Pay is popular for mobile payments.
What is the main payment method in Taiwan? The most popular digital payment method in Taiwan is the credit card, which is widely used for both online and offline retail. E-wallets like LINE Pay and JKOPAY are also extremely popular for in-store QR code payments, P2P transfers, and bill payments.
Cash is still king in 90% of the places. You can use credit cards in restaurants and convenient stores, but for night markets, taxi etc., most places still take cash.
Should I exchange money before I travel to Taiwan?
Don't change the currency in the U.S., not a good rate. At Taiwan airport or the local bank is not much difference. At the local bank, if you not have Taiwan passport, there will be some extra charge for currency exchange. So Debit card might be a good idea.
Choose Metro, AKA MRT, for Cheap and Convenient Taiwan Transportation. I'd highly recommend using MRT – Mass Rapid Transit – for going between sightseeing spots in the city. Stations are sprinkled throughout the city, often close to popular tourist attractions. It's cheap, with trains coming and going regularly.
Yes, you can absolutely wear red in Taiwan; it's a very auspicious color symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and celebration, used extensively in festivals, weddings, and temples, though you should avoid writing someone's name in red ink as it's considered bad luck and a sign of death. Red clothing is common and welcomed, especially during festive times, and generally, you can wear whatever you like, with few restrictions.
Coin: One-segment ticket, regular NT$15; Two-segment ticket, regular NT$30; Three-segment, NT$45. Most passengers will only need a One-segment ticket. ...
Electronic payment: Just lightly swipe your card over the sensor zone, and payment is automatically completed with the beeping of the reader.
How much cash should I bring to Taiwan for 3 days?
As you can see, budget travelers can comfortably explore Taiwan on around NT$2000 (US$65) per day, while mid-range travelers should prepare about NT$4,000 (US$130).
You can use the Visa Debit card at all ATMs in Taiwan to withdraw cash (in TWD), make payments, make transfers and check the balance of your TWD saving account. You can also use it to make payments by signing the receipt at any overseas merchant that accepts Visa credit card.
The 2/3/4 rule for credit cards is a guideline, notably used by Bank of America, that limits how many new cards you can get approved for: no more than two in 30 days, three in 12 months, and four in 24 months, helping manage hard inquiries and credit risk. It's a strategy to space out applications, preventing too many hard pulls on your credit report and helping maintain financial health by avoiding over-extending yourself.
Tipping is also not common practice in Taiwan. Patrons don't need to add additional costs to a meal's base price. Servers in the country make a living wage and don't rely on tips. Some locals may consider efforts to tip as rude behavior.
If you're eating with Taiwanese people they will probably insist that you eat more even if you say you're full. The etiquette here is to politely insist you're full. Your host is just being a good host by offering more food and making sure you're not just too shy to eat more.
We recommend that you have access to more than one source of money – bringing a combination of cash and a credit/debit card will give the most security and flexibility while travelling.
The best months to visit Taiwan are generally March-May (Spring) for blossoms and mild weather, and October-November (Autumn) for comfortable temperatures, low humidity, and fall foliage, avoiding the hot, humid, typhoon-prone summer (June-August) and the cooler, wetter winter in the north. Spring offers cherry blossoms and hiking, while autumn is great for festivals, hiking, and national parks, though occasional typhoons can occur.
EasyCard (official site / order on KKday / order on Klook) is Taiwan's most popular and common reloadable transport card for both locals and travelers.
Taxis. While the bright yellow taxis of Taipei are the most expensive of the public transportation options available, they are still very cheap by international standards. A journey right across the city will generally cost less than NT$250.
