As you can see from all my blog posts about Taiwan, I really enjoyed my time there! As with most international destinations, there was definitely a learning curve with day-today life as a first-timer. So, I thought I’d share some of my takeaways in this post. It’s funny the things you don’t even think about until you get to a new country and realize how differently things are done!

Garbage

It’s extremely difficult to find a garbage can on the street to throw out, anything. I learned it’s mainly due to street dogs that used to roam the streets, so they removed the garbage cans, as well as strict recycling rules.

When you need a garbage, look for convenience stores (I personally felt uncomfortable walking in just to throw out trash, but that’s me), or bathrooms which have a garbage can.

Transportation

Buses

Bus stops are often much closer both to where you are, and where you are going, and often more convenient than the MRT. I was surprised at the number of times a bus was more direct, and faster. Google Maps is helpful for routing all your travel routes within Taipei.

When taking the bus, make sure you are standing exactly in front of the sign for the bus you need. Bus drivers do not stop if you’re not, and they don’t wait for stragglers.

Buses drive super fast, even if an elderly person boards. Make sure you hold on to a pole immediately so you don’t get tossed all over the bus.

Getting To And From The Airport And Taipei

The least expensive, and fastest option is to take the express train. In my case, I boarded a train at the airport, and could have switched at a later stop, to the express train, but was too tired, and not in a rush, so stayed on the local which was fine.

If you need a taxi, Uber is $45, as of the writing of this post, but a taxi with Klook is only about $26! I took a taxi back to the airport. My driver sent me a message the night before confirming, let me know he got caught in traffic on the way in, but ended up early, and I had a smooth ride.

Pedestrian Crosswalk Lights

Traffic lights are long. It’s great if you’re crossing, but if you’re waiting, it’s akin to dial-up speed for the internet. When you have a red light, there’s an actual count DOWN till the light will turn green. You can easily check your inbox and social media, and maybe run an errand while you wait.

Hotels

Check-in is late, usually 3pm, and if you arrive in the morning on an international flight, it’s a painfully long wait. It’s unlikely your room will be ready early. If you want an earlier room availabiliy, consider starting your booking for the day before you arrive.

I found the shower water was hotter at night than in the morning. It happened at every hotel. In the morning, I waited ages for the water to warm up, but in the morning, it was hot instantly.

Food

Store and restaurant owners are very honest with money. I was always shown a calculator when I bought something, showing me the price, and the change was always accurate. One time I bought a slice of cake and, after tasting it, realized there was cream in it, which I can’t eat. I confirmed with the waitress and she refunded me!

There’s usually a basket to place your belongings when you go to a restaurant or cafe. I loved this. They’re usually under a chair and let you keep your bag on a clean surface without taking up table space.

If you plan to save money and eat in the markets, it’s mostly fried, greasy, or sweet. This is not the place to eat if you’re trying to lose weight. I found Japanese food was excellent and an easy way to avoid putting on as much weight!

Miscellaneous Things

Carry Hand Wipes and Tissues

Bring hand wipes to markets and always have tissues on you. Restaurants do have napkins, but they can be hard to find, and usually you have to get up and get them, so having a pack of tissues on you saves a lot of frustration. If you eat at the markets, you’ll use your hands a lot, and they get dirty fast. Trust me, those hand wipes make the experience a lot better!

Souvenirs

There are so many souvenirs, and so many levels of them. The Red House in Ximending offers higher end, hand-made crafts. Those fun Taiwan mesh bags that are everywhere come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. I highly recommend waiting to buy them. Prices vary enormously as do the other aspects just mentioned. You can even get decorations ironed on in some shops!

For the fun bags and souvenirs you see EVERYWHERE, check out the alley near Taiyuan Street. (That’s an intersection to aim for, and the alleys and main street are a few minutes walk from there.) I found the prices for everything, both on Taiyuan Street, and on the alleys nearby, drastically less expensive than most other places.

Electronics

Growing up with all the “made in Taiwan” tags, and being so close to China, I presumed electronics would be much cheaper because all the chips are manufactured there. It turns out that assumption is incorrect! Unless you’re buying a local brand, you’ll pay the same or even more for electronics than you do in the USA.

Touristy Information To Know

Maokong Crystal Gondola

Yes, it’s worth the 50 Taiwanese Dollar upgrade (about $2) for the glass-bottom gondola. However, it’s 50 Taiwanese dollars EACH TRIP. So, if you’re spending the day in Maokong, try to buy some extra tickets all at the same time, so you don’t have to wait on line to upgrade your ticket at the time of each ride.

Shifen and Jiufen and Yehliu Geopark

These are must-see destinations. The Klook tour I mentioned in my previous blog post is convenient. But, you’re there at the same time as all the other tourists and it’s much too fast.

Use Google Maps to find the local transportation to get yourself there, and avoid peak tourist times, which tend to be the afternoon. Early morning and late afternoon are better. If you’re going to get a photo of the Queen’s Head with you in it, expect to wait on a long line.

Yangminshan National Park

This is another must-do activity, But, it’s huge. Make sure to choose the exact area you want to go (you can use Google Maps to find names, then use Google to see what’s actually there) then find the local transportation you need. Again, Google Maps is really handy for this.

Transportation each way can be upwards of an hour because it’s a one-lane, twisty road most of the time. The temperature is likely to be dramatically colder on Yangminshan than in Central Taipei. Even if it’s a muggy day, pack layers.

Sadly, that’s a wrap on Taiwan! But, I know I’ll be back eventually to see more.