Traveling Taipei: Tips, Tricks, and Takeaways

Urban City

By: Leslie Stroud
Mar 24, 2019
(8) Comments

Traveling Taipei: Tips, Tricks, and Takeaways

Originally published March 24, 2019. Updated October 31, 2026. We’ve clarified which details below come from our family’s earlier visit and added links to official sources for current transit, ride, and mobile-data information.

As our third large Asian metropolis we’ve hit, we were feeling pretty good hitting Taipei. There were a few surprises, but we loved it here.

A red, two-level temple with ornate curved roofs stands against a wooded hillside.

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Taipei felt incredibly safe to us

I felt Taipei was incredibly safe. I also talked to various local women, and they agreed. That was our impression and those were the conversations we had during our visit, not a guarantee for every traveler or every situation.

SIM cards helped us stay connected

We pick up new SIM cards as we travel, which gives us data on the go. That is super helpful when we are using Google Maps to figure out where to go. Pocket Wi-Fi is a different option, so check with providers about current plans and what suits your devices. Chunghwa Telecom’s tourist information lists 5G/4G prepaid SIM cards through its airport counters and service centers; confirm current details with the provider before you go.

Cash was our backup on that trip

Bring NT dollars with you or exchange them there. We often use ATMs on our travels. During our Taipei visit, some places did not take our credit cards from foreign banks, but Apple Pay worked for me a lot. That was our experience then, not a guide to current merchant acceptance; check with your bank and payment provider before you go.

An adult and four children stand beside railway tracks and signs, including one pointing to Ruifang.

Language took a little extra planning for us

Be prepared with Google Translate. We usually could find someone who could speak English, but the signage was much more Chinese, which was a little tricky for us.

Ride-hailing: our experience then and what to check now

Uber’s official Taipei guide lists service in the city; check the app for options at your destination. At the time of our visit, we had been using Grab for months. Our credit card was sometimes declined, and we had to keep switching cards.

The MRT is amazing

Want to explore? Just hop on and check out any of the stops within the city center. For current routes, timetables, first and last trains, and fare information, check the official Taipei Metro maps and service information before heading out.