Frequently Asked Questions About Taiwan for Travelers

One of the most important things we need to do when traveling is preparation. We need to be as prepared as possible especially if you are traveling in a country you’re not familiar with. Taiwan is just a small country compared to others, however, when going to some remote and distant places, Mandarin is a must for communication. But how about the weather, internet, mode of transportation, the rate, etc. These are just some questions we usually encounter with our guests. We already made a blog about the top 5 tips you should know before visiting Taiwan but it seems not enough. Below are some frequently asked questions about taiwan for travelers.

Where can you have your money exchanged?
- Unlike any other Asian countries, money changers here in Taiwan are very rare. The most convenient way of exchanging your money to NT$ is through the money changers inside the airport. Once you get out of the airport, the only option you have is to have it changed in the local banks which is only open during weekdays until 03:00 PM. (NOTE: Only Taiwan Banks accept PHP). You can also withdraw money from ATMs everywhere as long as you activate the international withdrawal service of your cards.

What are the modes of transportation from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei?

What is the schedule of Taipei MRTs and Buses?
- Taipei MRTs: The first trains leave from their respected terminal stations at 6AM while the last trains leave from their respected terminal stations at 12AM midnight.
- Taipei Buses: Each bus company has a different schedule for each route. In general, the first buses depart around 5AM and the last buses between 10PM and 12AM midnight.
- Intercity Buses such as Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport, Ubus, Southeast Bus, Aloha Bus and Ho-hsin Bus (going to distant places like Taichung, Tainan, Kaoshiung) operate 24 HRS.

Where to buy an internet sim or wifi router?
- You can buy an internet sim or rent a wifi router at the airport. You can actually purchase them ahead of time through Klook or KKDay.

What is the weather?
- Taiwan has four seasons:
  1. WINTER: December to Mid of March
  2. SPRING: Mid of March to May
  3. SUMMER: June to September
  4. FALL: October to November

Is it practical to book a private tour? If going solo? If with group?
- For those going solo, we would suggest to take the joiner tours available in KKDay or Klook as most of the beautiful places are away from the city and taking the trains might take forever for you to get there. These travel apps offer day tours that would perfectly complete your solo trip!
- As for traveling in group, YES, it is practical and convenient to book a private tour. You can save time and you can be able to go to a lot of places as you don’t need to transfer from one bus/train to another. Actually, you can also save money because it would be an additional expense for you if you get lost and book a taxi instead. And one important factor is the language because not all Taiwanese knows how to communicate in English (but they’ll really try their best to help you!).

*If you want to book your private tour with us, you can check our tour packages or visit our Facebook Page for promotions.

Any hotel recommendations?
- No exact hotels, but we would definitely suggest to book your accommodation within Ximen MRT Station. It is a convenient location where there’s a nearby shopping district, MRT Station, restaurants and convenience stores.

What are the famous night markets in Taipei and how to get there?
- The three popular night markets in Taipei are the following:
  1. Shilin Night Market: This is the most popular night market in Taiwan which is consists of two major elements: general merchandise and local cuisine. Take the Red Line to Jiantan Station (劍潭), not Shilin Station.
  2. Raohe Night Market: An epitome of a traditional night market, Raohe Night Market is filled with fun and interesting night foods and snacks, quaint shops and stalls, and carnival games with prizes. Take the Green Line to the Songshan Station (松山), exit 5.
  3. Ximending Night Market/ Shopping District: This is a modern night market (also known as the “Harajuku” of Taipei) that’s more popular for shopping. Take Blue Line or Green Line to Ximen Station (西門).

Do you have any recommended itinerary for groups?

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
National Palace Museum
Martyr's Shrine
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall
Longshan Temple
Taipei 101

DAY 4

DAY 5

*If you want to book your private tour with us, you can check our tour packages here or visit our Facebook Page for promotions. Also, you can check some photos when we had this 4D Tour here.

How about for Solo Travelers? Any DIY itinerary?
- The itinerary listed below can be accessible through public transportations (MRTs, buses, trains) in a day.

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

*You can check our Taiwan Blogs on how to get to these places with the use of available public transportation here in Taiwan.

What documents do you need that the immigration might look for?
- Taiwan is a visa-free country for Filipinos till July 31, 2019 and still on review for a possible extension.
- These are just some of the documents that the immigration office might need:
  1. Passport which has a remaining validity of at least 6 months
  2. Return flight tickets
  3. Hotel confirmation or any proof of accommodations
  4. Draft itinerary
  5. Bank Statement
  6. If employed, they might need your Certificate of Employment, Leave Certificate, or Company ID
  7. If government employees and officials, according to the law, are strictly required to have a Travel Order to authorize them to travel abroad no matter what the purpose or how long the duration of their travel will be.
  8. If you’ll be visiting a friend, better prepare an invitation letter with his/her IDs especially you’ll be staying at his/her place.

What apps do I need to install for the trip?
- As this country is a non-speaking English country, language apps are really of help. You can just download the app “Google Translate”. They do have features like type to translate, speak to translate, and instant camera translation that will always keep you on the go during your trip.
- Go! Taipei Metro app is a tool that provides information that would help you on your MRT Ride such as the schedule for the next train, fare from one station to another, and it could even give suggestion as to the fastest route going to your destination. KKDay and Klook are some of the useful apps to check for some day tours, airport transfer services, and even discounts to your favorite museums, parks, and the like. You can browse through the app according to your chosen category.
- Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb are apps that you can search for accommodations. Every items have some reviews and ratings for your reference. Don’t forget to check these factors so that you won’t regret booking with your chosen accommodation.

How much pocket money do I need to bring?
- Pocket money will really depend on how many days as well as your itinerary during your stay here in Taiwan. In order for you to assess how much money you should bring, better pre-book your tour service and accommodation. Maybe a budget of around NT$200 per day for food might be good enough already except if you opted to dine in a fancy restaurant. If you run out of cash, you can just withdraw money from convenience stores’ ATMs.

Hope these FAQs will be of help on your upcoming trip here in Taiwan. Still drafting an itinerary? You might want to check our Taiwan Blogs for some ideas or check our Facebook Page.

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