25 Things to Know Before Traveling to Taipei

Last Updated on December 10, 2024 by Christine Kaaloa

25 Things to Know Before Traveling to Taipei

Culture shock can vary in range, from extremely unpleasant to mind-blowing awesome. Each traveler has their own gauge of likes and dislikes in experiencing ‘cultural difference’.   Experiencing Taiwanese cultural differences is what adds to the adventurous fun of traveling Taipei. What I loved about Taipei was that as Asian urban as it is, there are unique sensibilities that separate it from Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and China.

25 Things to Know Before Traveling to Taipei

1. Taiwanese and their dogs

You’ll find that a lot of dogs are dressed up in little street clothes. Sometimes they’re even pushed around in baby carriages. You could say that dogs are pretty much part of the Taiwanese family.

2. Taiwanese Toilets

In Taipei, you’ll find two types of bathrooms — highly modern luxury toilets or  ‘old school’ squat toilets. The good thing about the Taiwanese squat toilets is that they have this bar, which you can hold onto when you’re leaning back.  If you don’t have good knees– which I know some of  you have mentioned it in my other video-– this might be a lifesaver for you. Usually there will be at least one western toilet in a restroom.

3. Public Restrooms are easy to find

Taipei makes finding a public restroom easy. There are always restrooms at the metro station, just before going in and they’re maintained pretty decently. You can also occasionally find restrooms at convenience stores.

4. Taiwanese wait in long queues for food

The thing that I’ve learned is the Taiwanese will wait in line for good food. So whenever you see a line wrapped around the corner at a restaurant or a food hawker. It generally tends to mean that the food is worth waiting for. And that is a local Michellin rating.

5. Public Charging Stations

You’ll find public phone and electronics charging stations  in the metro.   This is a charging station area for people who need to charge their phones or laptops. You bring your own charger, and they will provide plug outlets for you to plug in.

6.  CCTV Safety in Taiwan

Taipei for the most part happens to be a pretty safe city is what I heard. Public places like the metro are pretty well surveillenced by CCTV.  Thus, very little crime occurs in these spots.  This doesn’t mean scams don’t arise. For a while, secret pen and car dashboard video recorders were popular due to the fact, scammers would do odd things like throw themselves in front of a car and then sue the owner for negligence.  In order to protect themselves, Taiwanese would record their actions to cover themselves from such thieves.

Read how to prevent pickpockets and travel theft

7. Free Public WiFi

The beauty of Taiwan is that there’s a lot of free Wi-Fi in public places like metros, museums. The only catch is that you have to go to one of the tourist information offices (located at some metro stations) and kind of get your phone set up so you can receive a password.  You’ll need to take your passport with you… and still, it might not work. What I’ve noticed is that sometimes, you either need to know the language or already have a Taiwanese SIM plan… which defeats the purpose of it being free wifi.

Should you get a Taiwanese SIM?

I wouldn’t waste my time getting a Taiwanese SIM card. After 5 days of my Taiwanese SIM not working (even though I had a Taiwanese local negotiate it for me). Tip: Get an Airalo eSim. These days I use it to stay connected abroad and I can activate it before I arrive at my destination. It saves me time having to hunt down a local SIM dealer and deal with it when it is wonky.

8. Escalator Etiquette

Like many places in Asia when you’re taking the escalator then the right hand side is where you just want to stay stationary. The left hand side is supposedly where you want to pass. Except for when someone clogs up…clogs that lane up.

9. Taiwan is home of bubble tea

You might have heard of Bubble Tea before. It’s not Chinese or Japanese.. the drink originated from Taiwan, where it is sold at many shops.  Bubble tea is a drink or tea served with tapioca balls or glutoneous rice balls and a huge straw.  The idea came from a Taiwanese desire to chew something with a drink, thus, they are also creators of  jelly drinks too.

10. Taipei might be cheap and fashionable, but don’t expect things you buy to last long

My backpack broke just as I left for Taipei and so I was always on the search for a shop which sold travel backpacks… or camera backpacks.. or just a bag that could carry all my computer and camera equipment. I didn’t realize it would be a monumental task.  My Taiwanese girlfriend told me– you might find a cheap replacement but don’t expect it to last long. Taiwan is not known for its quality and things are sold cheaply because most Taiwanese know it will not last or be out of fashion within a year.

This seemed like words of truth– the fashionable backpack replacement I bought inTaipei didn’t even last a month!

11. Do not eat or drink on public transportation

One thing westerners may be throw aback with is that there is no eating on public transportation in Taiwan.  You will see signs up in buses and on the MRT. In fact, just before you cross the MRT turnstile to find your train, look down and you’ll see a yellow line reminding you no eating or drinking beyond that point.

12. Do not sit in MRT seats reserved for Pregnant Ladies, Handicapped and Seniors.

Similar to Japan, there are train seats reserved on the MRT for pregnant ladies, handicapped people and seniors.  The Taiwanese this seriously and avoid sitting in them even if the train is crowded. Occasionally you might see a Taiwanese person break this rule, but the society knows they are breaking it and you’d need to live with the eyes of social pressure on you.

13. There’s more to convenience stores than meets the eye

7 Eleven and Family Mart are ubiquitous in Taipei and you’ll find them easily. This is because the Taiwanese are serious about offering convenient services, such as ATMs, mail/shipping pickup and drop-off, concert and event tickets purchases, pay your utility bills and participate in the lottery! Check out my 7 Eleven of Taiwan experience.

Read my ATM tips for traveling abroad

14. That stinky smell around night markets is Stinky tofu

Occasionally while strolling around Taipei food stalls and night markets, you’ll come across a putrid wafting smell that you might mistake as garbage. The smell is generally coming from a food hawker or vendor smelling stinky tofu, a tofu which has been aged and pickled. Check out the must try street foods of Taipei.

15. You can get around Taipei without knowing Chinese

Being that Mandarin Chinese is the country’s language, you’ll find Chinese characters on signs. Despite that, Taipei is still easy to travel and you won’t be dealing with language barriers in big cities like Taipei. Taipei is very international and there are English signs, in central areas of the city, restaurant menus and on the metro. 

However, the language barrier can get a little more challenging the further you go from the central areas. Public buses going out of Taipei or in the suburbs, might occasionally have Chinese characters.

16. Taiwanese is a polite, respectful and conservatively liberal culture

Despite being neighbors with China, Taiwanese are very laidback, polite and a liberal minded culture. They are conservative in their dress so clothes that westerners feel are sexy and revealing can attract stares. But being that the climate can get humid, you will see women dressed casual clothes like shorts.

17. Dress conservatively when visiting temples

Although Taiwanese tend to dress casually, when it comes to temple visits, there is a definite conservative dress etiquette to respect. If you are a woman, make sure you cover your middriff, shoulders and thighs.

18. Taiwan welcomes LGBT community.

Did you know that Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalize same sex marriages? They do have Pride parades and you’ll find in Taipei, there as a rainbow colored road dedicated to it.

19.Taiwan is not a tipping culture (but it is appreciated)

Taipei is not a tipping culture but if you are happy with a service, you can round up to the dollar or add 10%.  Also restaurants often add in a 10-15% service charge, so leaving an appreciation tip is not necessary.

20. Book early for Lunar New Year

The major holiday to beware of is Lunar New Year. This is Taiwan’s New Year, so book as early as you can as hotels and hostels will sell out fast.

21. Take a Taipei food tour

Taiwanese are major foodies and love their food, so a must is to take a Taipei food tour (read my experience).

Explore the local wet markets where Taiwanese buy their produce to hole-in-the-wall specialty cafes and night markets where each vendor brings their own culinary art to each dish, a food tour will take you inside the palate of Taiwanese cuisine.

22. Taipei Night Market culture

Taipei has recorded over 20 night markets. The favorites are Raohe, Ximending, Shilin, and they include street food, popular snacks and drinks and sometimes, clothing, technology and household products. Shilin and Raohe were my favorite night markets. Shilin has fun foods and clothes/trinket shopping whereas Raohe is all street hawkers with their own novelty spin on dishes.   Read more about the night market scene in my Taipei travel guide.

Tip: Book a hotel near Shilin Market, hotels near Ninxia Market, hotels near Raohe

23. Taipei has quirky theme cafes

From poop cafes where you eat from urinal bowls, to cafes where you can feed and play with cats as you sip your coffee, Taipei has a fair share of theme cafes to keep you entertained when you eat. Check out my 5 quirky experiences in Taipei

24. Taipei is perfect for female solo travelers

Taipei is a safe city with low crime. It is a Confucian-Buddhist culture that centers around respect, honoring family, conservatism but warm friendliness. I never felt unsafe traveling it at any hour of the day and as I mentioned earlier, there is CCTV.

25. Enjoy many day trips from Taipei

Taipei is a lovely basecamp for exploring nearby destinations:

• Northern Taiwan is worthwhile to witness its jaw-dropping natural treasures and Juifen, a small town known for its street alley food hawkers and Chinese lanterns. Check out six North Taiwan attractions that will blow you away! Pro Tip: Highly recommended to book at day tour to Northern Taiwan and/or a day in Juifen (you won’t regret it!)
• About 45 minutes out from Taipei is Houtong Cat Village, a small riverside town nestled in a picturesque valley known for its army of resident cats.
• Daxi is a small town known as the tofu town for its specialty tofu.
• Dansui is like a Taiwanese Coney Island sans carnival rides. It’s a seaside boardwalk with food hawkers, carnival games and souvenir shops. Take a ferry out to the island.

Read more day trips on my Taipei trip guide.

In Taipei for a layover? Take a free airport layover tour

Where to Stay in Taipei

Luxury Hotels in Taipei

Hotel Resonance Taipei, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is an elegant, modern four star hotel with a unique Cubist architectural design is just a stone’s throw from Taipei Main Station.

Humble House Taipei, Curio Collection by Hilton offers a prime location in Xinyi District, just steps from Taipei 101 and City Hall MRT Station, with spacious, modern rooms featuring free Wi-Fi, wood furnishings, and luxurious amenities. Guests can sip beverages with garden views at The Terrace.Rated 8.6 on Booking.com

Check out more luxury hotel options in Taipei here.

Boutique Hotels in Taipei

Dandy Hotel- Tianjin branch: This boutique hotel is renovated from an old hotel in Zhongshan District, a 5 min walk to Zongshan MRT subway.  Great location and awesome breakfasts! Travelers rate it a 9.0 on Booking.com

Ambience Hotel Taipei in Zhongshan District offers stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi, modern amenities, and an on-site restaurant. Conveniently located near Taipei Songshan Airport and Taipei 101, it provides free parking, a tour desk. Travelers rate it an 8.7 on Booking.com

Check out more top Taipei boutique hotels

Budget Accommodations in Taipei

ColorMix Hostel & Hotel  What happens when you mix a hostel with a hotel? Apparently at ColorMix Hostel & Hotel you get a pod hotel! Small, compact and inexpensive, this was a budget friendly hotel was still on the luxurious side for me. I got an all inclusive hotel room the size of an officetel with bathroom ensuite. It literally had just enough room for me to do all the business I needed. Location convenient in Ximending, near three 7 Elevens, free wifi, highly recommended.

Backpackers Inn Taipei has convenient location, just 2-minute walk from the MRT. A 10-minute walk away from Taipei Main Station or Ximen Station.  Nearby attractions are Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, the Presidential Palace.

My Travel Survival Cheat Sheet

• eSim I’m using to stay connected abroad. Activate it before or on your trip!
• Skyroam– Global wifi (take 10% off with referral code GRRRLTRAVELER)
• Trip Insurance Finder Tool for budget travelers looking for trip insurance to fit specific needs.
• I get my adventure trip insurance from World Nomads trip insurance (they cover travel theft)
• Expedia for great weekend trip package deals
• Take your yoga traveling and book a yoga retreat/ training.
• Book hotels without a cancellation fee. Use this Hotel Comparison Tool to find the lowest prices!
• Book chic hostels with Hostelworld
• Ditch and store your luggage at local businesses for under $10/day
• 12goAsia Book trains and buses.

What do you think about Taipei Culture Shock? What are things you should know before going to Taipei? 

Video: Watch my “How I travel Taiwan” series

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