This information has been compiled for your reference in good faith but please use this only as a general guide. We advise you to check with relevant authorities with regard to the latest requirement for passport, visa, travel advisory, entry restrictions, health requirements, local currency etc as these are subject to change with without prior notice and our information given below may not be as updated.

Best time to go: The best time to visit Taiwan is considered to be from October to April, as this is the time when weather conditions are typically warm and dry across the country. Starting from March, cherry trees start to blossom, attracting all the tourists. During the summer months of June through to September the temperature and rainfall increases. Whereas typhoon season normally occurs during the month of September. 

Taiwanese women do not like being exposed to the sun and prefer their skin to be fair.

Visa: New Zealand passport holders do not require a Visa for Taiwan. Entry Permit for 90 days’ stay is granted on arrival free of charge. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the expected departure from Taiwan.

If you want to drive the entire island by car in one day, it will take around eight hours.

Currency: Taiwan’s unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar, which has five denominations in paper money and in coins. Paper money comes in NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1000, and NT$2000. Coins come in NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, NT$20 and NT$50. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at hotels and government-designated banks. Keep your receipts, which are given when the currency has been exchanged to present them upon departure in order to exchange the unused NT dollars. Major credit cards like American Express, VISA, Diners Club, MasterCard, Access, are accepted at most establishments.

Taiwan’s population has the highest IQ ranks in the world, which is mainly due to their hard work and studies.

Health: Taiwan does not have any particular health risk and general hygienic conditions are generally of a high standard. However, there are a few precautions recommended – avoid eating food exposed to natural elements, ensure that mineral water bottle is properly sealed when you buy it, cover arms and legs in the evening to avoid mosquito bites during summer. Carry your general medication with you and consult your doctor well in advance to prepare for the trip. Mosquito-repellent spray/cream is highly recommended to carry.

Food and drinks: Taiwan offers a huge assortment of cuisines, from Taiwanese and Chinese food to Japanese and aboriginal dishes. Choices range from wallet-draining restaurants featuring some of Asia’s best chefs to super-cheap night markets and street stalls. In the major cities, there’s also plenty of Western food, from smart Italian cafés to all the familiar fast-food chains.

We recommend buying Wine/Alcohol from Duty-free as most. Hotels do not have bars, However, Beers are available at local convenience stores and Wines are hard to find.

Taiwan produces some of the world’s finest tea, and as a result is a good place to drink and buy it, particularly oolong. Teahouses are a significant part of contemporary Taiwanese society, ranging from the traditional to the ultra chic. Taiwan is also regarded as a global leader in tea novelty, by creating world-wide favourites such as bubble tea. 

White colour is considered to be the colour of death in Taiwan, instead of black like in many other countries.

Safety & security: Like in any other part of the world, a few precautions need to be taken to avoid any problems. Please do not leave your bags unattended at any times. Please use safe deposit in your hotel room or Reception to keep your money or valuables including passport. When you leave the room, it is recommended that you lock your suitcase. It is also recommended to carry a copy of your passport including the visa page.

Clothing: Casual and semi-casual summer clothes are acceptable in Taiwan during summer months and residents are fairly tolerant of different cultures' mode of dress. Take light cotton clothing and smart casual for evening dining. Light woollens recommend when travelling during autumn and winter for an unexpected chill.

Hotels outside Taipei do not insist on any dress code or footwear (even for dinner).

Swimming/head cap is mandatory as part of the swimming attire at all swimming pools or hot spring or a spa. Having your own is recommended as the local products are of sub-standard quality.

Taiwanese people love singing in karaoke. You will find a lot of karaoke places here, with private rooms and bars inside.

Language: The major language spoken in Taiwan is Chinese. The most significant of foreign languages that are spoken in Taiwan is English, which is being taught in the schools. Most good Hotels have Reception staff fluent in English but there are exceptions. Your local guide is the most reliable person to ask for help in case you are unable to resolve anything with the Hotel or restaurant or even while shopping.

Gratuities: Tipping is not mandatory but it is highly appreciated by the people who serve you. If you want to tip to show your gratitude, consider giving a small gift rather than cash. You can tip your guide around 10%  and tip your driver around 5% as a nice gesture. When eating out in restaurants in Taiwan, you can be expecting that there will be a 10-15% charge supplementary to your bill, as a service charge.

Taiwanese flag has 12 rays of the sun, which represents 12 months in a year and 12 hours in the Chinese day.

Airport tax: Generally your international air ticket should include airport tax on international departure.

Internet: Internet is common in hotel rooms and a lot of hotels also have internet facilities at their Reception or Business Centre for use by guests at a small fee. Cyber cafes are available in the city in the main shopping streets at very reasonable costs.

Unlucky number in Taiwan is considered to be 4 and a lot of places avoid using it.

Telephone: Taiwan has a dialling code of +886 from New Zealand. Telephone numbers of Hotels arranged by us will be supplied to you in your itinerary. While calling New Zealand from Taiwan, you will need to dial +64. Calling Booths (you need to buy Calling Cards from supermarkets) are easily available and calling New Zealand is rather expensive; calls made from Hotels are almost 8-10 times more expensive. You also have to pay a charge to the Hotel to collect calls as well. Taiwan has an excellent mobile network and most of the roaming mobiles can function here.

Time Difference: Taiwan is 4 hours behind New Zealand from April to September and 5 hours from October to March.

Dried watermelon seeds and an omelette made with oyster are daily snacks for Taiwanese.

Photography: Taking photographs at some establishments are prohibited – please check with your local guide if you are not clear about any particular building. If you are taking photos of locals, please politely ask for prior permission.

Electricity: Taiwan has the same electrical standard as the US and Canada: 110V, 60Hz AC. Electrical sockets have two vertical slots. If you bring appliances from Europe, Australia, New Zealand or Southeast Asia, you'll need an adaptor or transformer. Visit this website for more information: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/taiwan/electricity.

Postage: Sending letters and post-cards from Taiwan is cheap. Post offices and letter boxes are centrally located in each city. Please ask for help from your local guide if you need to post something from or within Taiwan.

There are a lot of bats on the streets, during the night time.

aiwan has a restaurant which is fully toilet-themed, including cutlery, dishes and food.

Cities of interest:

Taipei

A destination with kindest people in the world, Taipei will always greet you with open arms. Enjoy delicious snacks on a stick while walking down Taipei’s streets during the day, visit the night market to excite all your senses and afterwards hit a night club in the city that never sleeps. Taipei is equipped with many diverse attractions, museums, parks, coffee shops, and hot springs for you to visit.

Tainan

Tainan used to be the old capital of Taiwan, before Taipei. Today it is a beautiful city with lots of sightseeing to offer, as well as a big metropolitan city. Just by walking on its streets, one can find old buildings, temples, shrines, together with big shopping malls and luxury boutiques. It also has a lot of national museums, where one can learn more about its culture, literature and history.

Chiayi

Chiayi is a small city in Taiwan, but very charming and While in Chiayi, visit the picturesque Hinoki Village consisting of 28 traditional Japanese houses and Koji Pottery Museum, which is one of Taiwan’s oldest traditional art forms. Also, visit the botanical gardens, insect museum and try to savour signature delicious food available on every corner.

Kaohsiung

Taiwan’s second largest city, Kaohsiung is popular for the Art District. Take amazing photos of the painted walls and colourful quirky statues. Visit temples and amusement parks, try the exquisite new dishes and find unique handcrafted items in those crowded streets lit with thousand colourful lights.

Taroko Gorge

Taroko Gorge is hiker’s paradise offering several trails to explore this gigantic beauty. Many of the trails lead to specific attractions like the Eternal Shrine or panoramic vantage points of the Gorge. Discover the thrilling Swallow Grotto, where you can walk in and out of tunnels above a river while walking alongside the Gorge.

Taitung

Featuring rivers, mountains, valleys and the ocean, Taitung is a very diverse city where you can experience the most thrilling and sensational attractions. Take a hot air balloon ride or experience a one of a kind water canal where the water flows uphill against all laws of gravity, visit the Green Island or relax at a hot spring.