Northern Taiwan has a subtropical climate. Daytime temperatures in Taipei in June range from 32°C (90°F) to 25°C (77°F) in the evening. Participants are advised to bring basic rain gear.
The official language of Taiwan is Traditional Chinese. The most commonly used foreign language is English, which is spoken by most service personnel, but many taxi drivers speak only Chinese or Taiwanese.
Sales tax is usually included in the price and does not have to be added. A 10% service charge is added to bills in hotels and restaurants. Tipping is not customary in Taiwan. Receipts are issued as proof of purchase upon payment.
Insurance is not included in the conference fees. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that after completing registration you purchase the appropriate travel insurance for your visit to Taiwan.
No vaccinations are mandatory when entering Taiwan, though some maybe recommended. Check with your local travel advisory service for details.
Currency
The official currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar, which is available in the following denominations:
(coins) $1, $5, $10, $50;
(notes) $100
Please note that shops in Taiwan do not accept traveler’s checks, so visitors holding traveler’s checks should have them exchanged into the local currency at a bank.
Banking
Opening hours are typically 9:30 to 15:30, Monday to Friday. ATMs are can be found throughout Taipei.
The current exchange rate is approximately US$1 to NT$30
Foreign currencies can be redeemed upon arrival at the airport, in a bank, or at any restaurant or large department store authorized by the government to convert currencies.
Credit Cards
Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay etc.) are accepted in most shops, hotels and restaurants.
Taxis
In Taiwan, taxis are yellow and can be found at taxi ranks in the city and at locations such as hotels and airports. Taxis can also be hailed in the streets of the city.
Drivers usually speak only Chinese or Taiwanese, so it’s recommended that you research the Chinese address of your destination before boarding. It is rare for taxis to accept payment in a currency other than Taiwan dollars.
A taxi from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei City will cost around NT$1,200, and from Songshan Airport about NT$500.
Uber is also available.
Buses
Taipei buses cover the whole city and are a good way to explore Taipei in depth.
Fares: Fares can be paid in coins or with the electronic EasyCard travel card. One trip or segment costs $15.
Payment is made:
(1) upon boarding,
(2) upon alighting, or
(3) both upon boarding and alighting
When you board the bus, look up. If you see this sign, you pay on boarding:
If you see this sign, you pay on alighting:
Long journeys may require you to pay both on boarding and alighting. (Check the sign before getting off.)
For information on bus routes, please refer to: https://ebus.gov.taipei/Query/BusDynamicMainList
Metro (MRT)
The Taipei metro is the fastest and most convenient mode of public transport in Taipei. Trains arrive every 3 to 5 minutes, and the average time between stations in metropolitan Taipei is around 2 mins.
Smoking, eating, drinking, and chewing gum are not allowed inside the metro.
One-way tickets can be purchased at the ticket machines at the station before passing through the gate. Daily and multi-day passes and EasyCard travel cards (pronounced “yo-yo card” in Chinese) can be purchased at the information desk or EasyCard customer service center.
For more details, please refer to: https://english.metro.taipei/
YouBike
The YouBike network is integrated with the metro. YouBike stations are located outside every metro station and near most major sites in Taipei.
Payment
Single-use: Pay with a credit card at the KIOSK at the YouBike station.
Multi-use: Use your EasyCard to sign up on the official website or through the official app.
Fares:
$10 per 30 min (or part thereof) for the first 4 hours.
$20 per 30 min (or part thereof) from 4 to 8 hours.
$40 per 30 min (or part thereof) after 8 hours.
For more details, please refer to: https://taipei.youbike.com.tw/home/
Calling Taiwan from abroad
The International Code for Taiwan is +886. The city/county code for Taipei City landlines is 2, and the code for mobile phones is 9.
To call Taiwan from abroad, dial the following:
exit code + 886+ county code+the phone number
E.g. to call a Taipei landline from Canada, dial:
Call 011-886-2-12345678
To call a mobile phone from Canada, dial:
Call 011-886-9-12345678
