Organize your stay Taiwan
Money Taiwan
Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar, or NT$ for short. In English, the Taiwanese simply say NT. The Iso code is TWD. There are banknotes of NT$100, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 (quite rare), and coins of NT$1, 5, 10 and 50.
In April 2024, one new Taiwan dollar was equivalent to around 0.028 euros, which means that, despite exchange rate fluctuations, 1 euro = NT$35.
Budget & Tips Taiwan
The cost of living is much the same as in France. If you sit on the corner of a table in an unpretentious snack bar, you can still eat well for NT$150 (€4), and a museum ticket rarely exceeds NT$100 (€3.3). Public transport is not expensive. So, as far as your wallet is concerned, there's no need to worry about a hole in the budget, except for accommodation. There are plenty of hotels in Taiwan, but the world-class establishments, where the staff speak English, are fairly expensive by comparison. On the other hand, if you don't mind where you sleep, the price of your stay should remain reasonable.
Some indicative prices : A liter of fuel (petrol): NT$ 35. A newspaper in English: NT$20, in Chinese: NT$15. Pack of cigarettes (American brands): NT$100.
Currency exchange. Banks, hotels and exchange offices accept all foreign currencies, but if you have a rare currency, prefer airport exchange counters to those in city centers. Please note that Taiwanese currency is not convertible, so it's best to have your own money before you leave.
Find an ATM. Note that, although ATMs are not compatible with all European cards, Visa® and MasterCard® holders should not encounter too many problems.
Use an English-speaking ATM. Generally speaking, ATMs are operated in the same way as in France. If the French language is not available, select English. "Retrait" is then called "withdrawal". If you are asked to choose between withdrawing from a "checking account", a "credit account" or a "saving account", select "checking account". Select "debit" for debit and "credit" for credit. (If you make a mistake in any of these options, don't worry - the only risk is that the transaction will be refused). Enter the desired amount and confirm ("enter"). To the question "Would you like a receipt?", answer "Yes" and keep your receipt in a safe place.
Withdrawal charges. As the euro is not the local currency, a commission is deducted from each withdrawal. Withdrawal fees vary from bank to bank, and generally consist of a fixed fee averaging 3 to 4 euros and a commission of 2 to 3% of the amount withdrawn. Some banks have partnerships with foreign banks or allow you to benefit from their network, offering you advantageous fees or even free withdrawals. Ask your bank advisor for details. Note also that some ATMs may charge a commission, in which case this will be mentioned at the time of withdrawal.
Haggling. Prices in Taiwan are fixed, with the exception of market prices.
Taxes. In luxury hotels and restaurants, the customer is charged 10% of the service charge, to cover service and taxes. But this only applies to a small number of addresses.
Passport and visas Taiwan
The Taiwanese authorities do not require a visa for French residents staying less than 90 days. The passport must be valid for six months after the return.
All passports issued in France are now biometric. They include your photo, fingerprints and a secure chip. To obtain it, go to the town hall with a tax stamp, proof of address, a piece of ID and two passport photos. The passport is issued in about three weeks. It is valid for ten years. Children must have a personal passport (valid for five years).
Before you leave, remember to photocopy all the documents you take with you. You will take one copy of each document and leave the other one with someone in France. In the event of loss or theft, renewal procedures will thus be much simpler with the consular authorities. You can also keep copies on the official website (mon.service-public.fr). Simply create an account and scan all your IDs and other important documents in the confidential area.
Driver's license Taiwan
Renting a car in Taiwan is easy and convenient enough to discover the country's charms at your own pace. This guide recommends serious car rental companies, but you can also ask your hotel to help you. Expect to pay between NT$2,000 and NT$8,000 per day. You'll need an international driving license, which will allow you to drive for 30 days. After that, you need to apply to the Motor Vehicles Office in Taipei for an extension to your international license. Taiwan's traffic laws are similar to ours, but traffic can be quite chaotic, especially in the big cities. So only drive if you're comfortable in these unusual conditions. An alternative often preferred by tourists is to rent an electric scooter (usually a few hundred NT$ per day), which can be recharged at any 7-Eleven in the country.
Health Taiwan
Heat. Taiwan's subtropical climate can be hard to bear for some, especially in summer. In case of intense physical exertion, such as cycling or hiking, you need to drink large quantities of water to avoid dehydration. Nights are very hot, and hotels are equipped with air-conditioning and, if not, at least fans, usually hanging from the ceiling. Don't look for heating - it's very rare in Taiwan, with temperatures rarely (and at the coldest peaks) dipping below 10°C.
Mosquitoes. Mosquito is the common name given to the 7,000 or so species classified in the Culicidae family. Not all of them attack humans. However, in addition to the harmless cousin, 300 species like to feed at our expense and around a hundred species are vectors of diseases, sometimes serious ones such as dengue fever or Japanese encephalitis.
Dengue fever. This virus, quite common in tropical countries, is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the same vector as the Zika virus and chikungunya. Dengue fever is characterized by a flu-like syndrome (fever, headache, severe joint and muscle pain). There is no preventive treatment. Never take aspirin. As this disease can be fatal, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor in the event of fever, and to drink water regularly.
Hepatitis A. For hepatitis A, prior immunity makes vaccination unnecessary. It is common if you have a history of jaundice, have spent a long time abroad or are over 45. Hepatitis A is usually benign, but it can be serious, particularly over the age of 45 and in cases of pre-existing liver disease. It can be caught through water or poorly washed food. If you have liver disease, vaccination against hepatitis A is highly recommended before any trip where hygiene is precarious. The first injection, one month before departure, is enough to protect you for a short trip. The second (six months to a year later) reinforces immunity for decades.
Hepatitis B. High risk in the country. Hepatitis B is more serious than hepatitis A. It is contracted through sexual intercourse or blood. The hepatitis B vaccine is given in two doses, one month apart (although accelerated one-month vaccinations are available for travelers in a hurry), followed by a booster six months later to reinforce the duration of protection.
Coronavirus (Covid-19): Taiwan was one of the first countries affected by the epidemic that originated in China. At the time, the Taiwanese health authorities had the situation well under control, and most of those infected had stayed in a high-risk area. It is still advisable to follow WHO advice (www.who.int/fr) regarding new variants and recent epidemics such as monkeypox.
First-aid kit. In addition to your usual medicines, take along an intestinal disinfectant. Dust and pollution are everywhere in Taiwan, so eye drops may also be necessary, and if the air really doesn't suit you, you can always do as the locals do and wear a mask. Watson's stores, of which there are many in Taiwan, have a well-stocked pharmaceutical department, so don't take on too much. To prepare your digestive system for the change of food, take UltraBiotic a few days before departure (to be continued on site), an organic medicine designed to broaden the range of intestinal flora, which has proved very effective against minor acclimatization diarrhoea.
Hospitals. The healthiness of Taiwan's hospital infrastructure and the competence of local doctors, most of whom have been trained abroad, are reassuring. What's more, most hospitals have English-speaking staff. Among those we can recommend, here are two located in Taipei and Kaohsiung: Taipei City Hospital (33 Zhonghua Road, section 2; ✆ + 886 2 2388 9595) and Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (100 Zihyou 1st Road; ✆ +886 7 312 1101).
Emergencies. The emergency number in Taiwan is ✆ 119. Please note that it is possible to get an operator in English.
Food hygiene. In most major cities, the water is safe to drink, although the local authorities advise you to drink it only after it has been boiled: the pipes are sometimes too old and loaded with heavy metals. To avoid any worries, buy bottled mineral water - very affordable - or drink tea. As far as food is concerned, there's nothing to worry about, as cooks make a point of using only fresh produce.
Mandatory vaccination Taiwan
Taiwan is not an epidemic area. No vaccination is required upon entry (except for travellers arriving from epidemic areas). However, it is advisable to keep your health record up to date by checking your latest diphtheria, polio and tetanus recalls. In addition, it is recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
Security Taiwan
Seismic risk. Taiwan is located in a zone of high seismic activity. In the event of an earthquake, the basic recommendations are as follows:
- Indoors: keep away from windows, outside walls, and any furniture, pictures or light fittings likely to topple over; take shelter under a solid table or other sturdy piece of furniture, or stand under a door frame.
- Outside: try to reach an open space, away from trees, power poles, walls or buildings; in the car, pull over to the side of the road and wait inside for the shaking to stop.
- In all cases, keep calm, follow instructions and wait for help if necessary. Every major earthquake is followed by a series of secondary tremors.
Should an earthquake occur during a tourist stay, French-speaking nationals are advised to contact their families or loved ones immediately to reassure them of their fate or, if necessary, in the event of communication problems with the outside world, to contact the consular services of their respective national representations.
Typhoons. The typhoon season extends from July to October. Typhoons can lead to flooding, landslides and accidents in towns, caused in particular by falling shop signs. Alerts are issued in advance by the Central Weather Bureau (www.cwb.gov.tw, in Chinese and English), which provides information on typhoon progress, intensity and affected areas. Safety instructions are relayed by all media. Television channels provide real-time coverage 24 hours a day. Regular information is broadcast in English by ICRT radio (FM 100.7 in Taipei and Kaohsiung, FM 100.1 in Taichung). Detailed information can be obtained on special telephone numbers ✆ 166 or ✆ 167 (in Chinese).
Potential danger. Taiwan is a very safe country. No matter where you are or what time of day it is, a sense of security pervades whoever wanders around. Stores stay open late at night, and 7-Eleven stores are open 24 hours a day. In short, the over-confident visitor may tend to forget that the feeling of safety does not exclude crime: pickpockets and thieves are rife in tourist areas. So make sure your bags are securely fastened, and avoid carrying identity papers, wallets and large sums of money in your backpack. Instead, carry a photocopy of your passport with you during the day.
For the latest information on local safety, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website - www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs - bearing in mind, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, and that this sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
Hospitality. The hospitality of the Taiwanese is evident in every detail of daily life. Just as you're about to choose a dish at random from a map filled with ideograms, a kind soul translates the map for you and advises you, or when, in front of an orientation map, you're complaining about the many ways of writing a place name, a passer-by gives you information without you even having asked him anything... Wherever they go, travellers are welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm. Despite the language barrier, the Taiwanese bend over backwards to satisfy their guests' needs. Since no is frowned upon in Chinese culture, they'll give you a convenient yes that sometimes, despite their good will, can't be honored. But don't be offended, as they'll have done their best. The Chinese love to give gifts to their visitors, so it's not uncommon in stores to receive a small gift to thank you for your visit, and almost always if you're invited to dinner at someone's home. However, it's advisable not to open the present in front of the recipient.
Single women. If you're a single woman in Taiwan, you won't encounter any particular problems. The Taiwanese are very respectful of propriety. A single woman, like anyone else, will be warmly helped, especially if she is a foreigner.
Travelers with children. Given the safety of the country and the quality of its accommodation and transport infrastructure, traveling with children in Taiwan is relatively easy. There's no shortage of activities for your little ones either: from amusement parks and cultural villages dedicated to aboriginal peoples, to the beaches of the South and the national parks rich in flora and fauna, they'll have plenty to keep them on their toes. Not to mention the special attention they should receive from the Taiwanese, who love foreign children. Note that the hot springs, one of the island's main tourist attractions, are in some places closed to children under 16.
Disabled travelers. Taiwan does not yet offer all the guarantees needed to facilitate the stay of disabled travellers. Unless you're staying in a luxury hotel, and even if things are evolving quickly and in the right direction, it's best to find out about your hotel's facilities before you leave. Access to transport, on the other hand, is quite good. International airports have facilities for disabled passengers. Similarly, Taipei and Kaohsiung MRT stations have elevators to the pedestrian walkways, and the first and last trains of each train have spaces reserved for wheelchairs. Buses in Taipei and other major cities also benefit from wheelchair access, which is unfortunately still all too rare outside the big cities.
Gay or lesbian travelers. Although Taiwan is one of the most tolerant countries in Asia when it comes to homosexuality (marriage for all was adopted in 2019), gays and lesbians generally hide their sexual orientation from their friends and colleagues. There are a good number of gay bars and nightclubs in Taipei, but this number quickly dwindles as soon as you head out to other provincial cities. Taipei is very tolerant and even publishes its own free guide, Taipei gay & lesbian. For further information on the destination, visit www.utopia-asia.com
Time difference Taiwan
The time difference is +7 hours in winter and +6 hours in summer. When it is 12h in Paris, it is 19h in Taipei in winter and 18h in summer.
Spoken languages Taiwan
The official language is Chinese. Despite the existence of different dialects, the Taiwanese people remain bound by the same language, commonly known as Mandarin. Taiwan's main dialects are Minnan, also known as Fukienese or Taiwanese, and Hakka, spoken by 75% and 15% of the population respectively. Aboriginal languages, which were gradually forgotten, are now being revived by a new generation keen to preserve their origins. Within the family and among friends of the same origin, Taiwanese people express themselves in their mother tongue, which often depends on their ethnic origin. In the workplace and at school, however, they generally use Mandarin. The unifying factor of these dialects is the use of the same writing system - Taiwan does not use the simplified characters of mainland China.
Due to the years of Japanese occupation, some of the older generation speak Japanese. English is spoken in the big cities by hotel and restaurant staff. Executives and students are more or less fluent, and younger children are introduced to the language at an increasingly early age. For the rest of the population, the language is still in its infancy, if not in its infancy, which is bound to lead to some unusual moments when sign language is the only means of communication. French is an exotic language in Taiwan, spoken by an infinitesimal proportion of the population, often attracted by a career in diplomacy.
Communication Taiwan
Telephone Directory, a state-owned company, had a monopoly on the telecommunications sector until 1997, when the government privatized the company. The company was renamed Chunghwa Telecom. Apart from the transfer of capital from the public to the private domain, this operation changed nothing in practice, since the company continues to exercise a virtual monopoly on the market.
To call from Taiwan to France, dial +33 followed by your correspondent's number without the 0. To call from France to Taiwan, dial +886 followed by your correspondent's number without the 0.
Local calls. To make a local call, simply enter the eight digits of your correspondent's number without the area code. For example, to call from Taipei to Taipei, don't dial (02), just 2349 1635 to call the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
Long-distance calls. For long-distance calls, from one district to another for example, you need to dial the area code of the zone you wish to call. For example, to call from Taipei to Kaohsiung, I type (07) before the number of my correspondent. Here's the list of area codes in Taiwan: Taipei, Keelung 02 - Taoyuan Hsinchu, Ilan and Hualien 03 - Miaoli 037 - Taichung, Changhua 04 - Nantou 049 - Chiayi 05 - Tainan, Penghu 06 - Kaohsiung 07 - Pingtung 08 - Kinmen, Wuchiu, Tungha, Nansha 082 - Matsu 0836 - Taitung 089.
Mobile calls. Simply dial the area code for all mobile numbers, (09) followed by the 8-digit call number.
Freephone numbers. Phone numbers with the prefix 080 are free domestic calls, and those beginning with 008 are free international calls.
Using your cell phone. If you want to keep your French package, you'll need to activate the international option (usually free) before you leave, by calling your operator's customer service department. Who pays what? The rule is the same for all operators. When you use your French phone abroad, you pay for the call, whether you make it or receive it. In the case of an incoming call, your correspondent also pays, but only the price of a local call. All calls made to or from abroad are out of the bundle, including those to voicemail.
Local SIM card. To obtain a prepaid SIM card to insert in your cell phone, and thus benefit from a Taiwanese number, you'll first need to register with one of the branches of one of the local operators (we recommend T-star). This will cost you NT$700 for two weeks of Internet data and local calls. It's not possible to buy a SIM card from the first phone store you come across: the easiest way is to buy a SIM card at the airport: there are stands offering this service just before immigration. To register, you'll need your passport and, if applicable, your work visa.
Internet. The Internet is ubiquitous in Taiwan. Many restaurants and 7-Eleven offer free wifi, as do most hotels. A few Internet cafés are still open in Taipei, mainly for video gamers. It's a good idea to buy a local SIM card for your smartphone, so you can use GPS and instant translation applications.
Electricity and measurements Taiwan
Electricity. As in the United States, the voltage is 110 volts and the frequency is 60 Hz. The sockets have two flat plugs, so an adapter is required. Look out! If you buy equipment locally, make sure that there is a cable compatible with our voltage, or buy an adapter.
Measures. The metric system is in force in Taiwan.
Luggage Taiwan
And let's not take this for granted: bring a bathing suit, even in winter. The many springs and spas are an integral part of the visit, not to mention the fact that many hotels have swimming pools. The Taiwanese are a stickler for hygiene, so don't forget to bring a bathing cap, or you won't be able to take a dip.
You'll find everything you need on site. A plethora of boutiques of all categories, from top-of-the-range to very inexpensive, are just waiting for you... Always opt for clothes made from natural fibers, such as linen and cotton; also take a sweater, jacket and scarf to protect you from the polar cold that reigns in air-conditioned hotels, restaurants and stores. Even in the summer months, remember to pack a pair of street shoes in case you're invited. Taiwanese people make a big deal of what they wear, and sandals and flip-flops still have a peasant connotation, even if you'll be told that you're "Taiwanized" right down to your toes.
