Taiwan Travel Guide

Language

Mandarin is the official language of Taiwan, but Taiwanese is often spoken and English is generally understood.

Currency

Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currencies and travelers checks (American Express, Citibank or Thomas Cook) can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted. Banks are open Monday to Friday. US dollars are the preferred currency. ATMs are plentiful but not all accept international bank cards.

28.7200

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade plugs and one with a third grounding pin is used.

Communications

Taiwan's international access dialing code is +886 and the outgoing code is 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00244 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. 2 for Taipei. Six network operators provide mobile telephone services in various regions using either GSM 900 or 1800 networks. Internet cafes can be found in Taiwan's cities and towns, and most hotels in Taipei have Internet access in their guestrooms.

Duty-Free

Travelers aged over 20 may enter Taiwan without paying customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 454g tobacco, 1 bottle of alcohol (maximum 1 liter), and a reasonable amount of perfume. Travelers are also permitted to bring personal goods valued up to NT$20,000 duty free (or NT$10,000 for those under 20 years). Guns, narcotics, fresh meat and fruit are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Taiwan Tourist Office: +886 2 594 3261 (Taipei) or www.tbroc.gov.tw

Embassies in Taiwan

• British Trade and Cultural Office, Taiwan: +886 2 8758 2088.
• Canadian Trade Office, Taipei: +886 2 2544 3000.
• Australian Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 8725 4100.
• Liaison Office of South Africa, Taipei: +886 2 2715 3251/4.
• Ireland Institute for Trade and Investment in Taiwan, Taipei: +886 2 2725 1691.
• New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 2757 9514.

Taiwan Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 1800.
• Taipei Representative Office, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7881 2650.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 231 5080.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Barton, ACT, Australia: +61 (0)2 6120 1022.
• Taipei Liaison Office, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6071/2/3.
• Taipei Representative Office, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 678 5413.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 303 3903.

Emergency

Emergencies: 110 (Police); 119 (Ambulance).

Language

Mandarin is the official language of Taiwan, but Taiwanese is often spoken and English is generally understood.

Currency

Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currencies and travelers checks (American Express, Citibank or Thomas Cook) can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted. Banks are open Monday to Friday. US dollars are the preferred currency. ATMs are plentiful but not all accept international bank cards.

28.7200

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade plugs and one with a third grounding pin is used.

Communications

Taiwan's international access dialing code is +886 and the outgoing code is 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00244 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. 2 for Taipei. Six network operators provide mobile telephone services in various regions using either GSM 900 or 1800 networks. Internet cafes can be found in Taiwan's cities and towns, and most hotels in Taipei have Internet access in their guestrooms.

Duty-Free

Travelers aged over 20 may enter Taiwan without paying customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 454g tobacco, 1 bottle of alcohol (maximum 1 liter), and a reasonable amount of perfume. Travelers are also permitted to bring personal goods valued up to NT$20,000 duty free (or NT$10,000 for those under 20 years). Guns, narcotics, fresh meat and fruit are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Taiwan Tourist Office: +886 2 594 3261 (Taipei) or www.tbroc.gov.tw

Embassies in Taiwan

• British Trade and Cultural Office, Taiwan: +886 2 8758 2088.
• Canadian Trade Office, Taipei: +886 2 2544 3000.
• Australian Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 8725 4100.
• Liaison Office of South Africa, Taipei: +886 2 2715 3251/4.
• Ireland Institute for Trade and Investment in Taiwan, Taipei: +886 2 2725 1691.
• New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 2757 9514.

Taiwan Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 1800.
• Taipei Representative Office, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7881 2650.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 231 5080.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Barton, ACT, Australia: +61 (0)2 6120 1022.
• Taipei Liaison Office, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6071/2/3.
• Taipei Representative Office, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 678 5413.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 303 3903.

Emergency

Emergencies: 110 (Police); 119 (Ambulance).

Language

Mandarin is the official language of Taiwan, but Taiwanese is often spoken and English is generally understood.

Currency

Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currencies and travelers checks (American Express, Citibank or Thomas Cook) can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted. Banks are open Monday to Friday. US dollars are the preferred currency. ATMs are plentiful but not all accept international bank cards.

28.7200

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade plugs and one with a third grounding pin is used.

Communications

Taiwan's international access dialing code is +886 and the outgoing code is 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00244 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. 2 for Taipei. Six network operators provide mobile telephone services in various regions using either GSM 900 or 1800 networks. Internet cafes can be found in Taiwan's cities and towns, and most hotels in Taipei have Internet access in their guestrooms.

Duty-Free

Travelers aged over 20 may enter Taiwan without paying customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 454g tobacco, 1 bottle of alcohol (maximum 1 liter), and a reasonable amount of perfume. Travelers are also permitted to bring personal goods valued up to NT$20,000 duty free (or NT$10,000 for those under 20 years). Guns, narcotics, fresh meat and fruit are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Taiwan Tourist Office: +886 2 594 3261 (Taipei) or www.tbroc.gov.tw

Embassies in Taiwan

• British Trade and Cultural Office, Taiwan: +886 2 8758 2088.
• Canadian Trade Office, Taipei: +886 2 2544 3000.
• Australian Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 8725 4100.
• Liaison Office of South Africa, Taipei: +886 2 2715 3251/4.
• Ireland Institute for Trade and Investment in Taiwan, Taipei: +886 2 2725 1691.
• New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 2757 9514.

Taiwan Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 1800.
• Taipei Representative Office, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7881 2650.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 231 5080.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Barton, ACT, Australia: +61 (0)2 6120 1022.
• Taipei Liaison Office, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6071/2/3.
• Taipei Representative Office, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 678 5413.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 303 3903.

Emergency

Emergencies: 110 (Police); 119 (Ambulance).

Language

Mandarin is the official language of Taiwan, but Taiwanese is often spoken and English is generally understood.

Currency

Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currencies and travelers checks (American Express, Citibank or Thomas Cook) can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted. Banks are open Monday to Friday. US dollars are the preferred currency. ATMs are plentiful but not all accept international bank cards.

28.7200

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade plugs and one with a third grounding pin is used.

Communications

Taiwan's international access dialing code is +886 and the outgoing code is 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00244 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. 2 for Taipei. Six network operators provide mobile telephone services in various regions using either GSM 900 or 1800 networks. Internet cafes can be found in Taiwan's cities and towns, and most hotels in Taipei have Internet access in their guestrooms.

Duty-Free

Travelers aged over 20 may enter Taiwan without paying customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 454g tobacco, 1 bottle of alcohol (maximum 1 liter), and a reasonable amount of perfume. Travelers are also permitted to bring personal goods valued up to NT$20,000 duty free (or NT$10,000 for those under 20 years). Guns, narcotics, fresh meat and fruit are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Taiwan Tourist Office: +886 2 594 3261 (Taipei) or www.tbroc.gov.tw

Embassies in Taiwan

• British Trade and Cultural Office, Taiwan: +886 2 8758 2088.
• Canadian Trade Office, Taipei: +886 2 2544 3000.
• Australian Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 8725 4100.
• Liaison Office of South Africa, Taipei: +886 2 2715 3251/4.
• Ireland Institute for Trade and Investment in Taiwan, Taipei: +886 2 2725 1691.
• New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, Taipei: +886 2 2757 9514.

Taiwan Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 1800.
• Taipei Representative Office, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7881 2650.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 231 5080.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Barton, ACT, Australia: +61 (0)2 6120 1022.
• Taipei Liaison Office, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6071/2/3.
• Taipei Representative Office, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 678 5413.
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 303 3903.

Emergency

Emergencies: 110 (Police); 119 (Ambulance).