Taiwan Packing List: What to Bring for Every Season
Planning a trip to Taiwan? With its diverse climate and landscapes, packing smart is key! This guide covers everything you need, whether you’re exploring cities, hiking mountains, or relaxing on the beach. Let’s get you ready for every adventure!
Suitcase or Backpack?
Taiwan is a very accessible country, so traveling with a suitcase is convenient—most public spaces have elevators and escalators.
While we used backpacks on our trip, they’re not essential here. For Taiwan, we recommend downsizing your packing, as you really don’t need as much as we brought for our world trip. Having extra space will be handy, especially if you plan to buy souvenirs during your holiday. It’s always nice to have some room for those special finds without feeling overpacked.
We typically organize our clothes in packing cubes for quick access: one cube for bottoms, one for tops, one for outdoor clothing, and so on. We also pack our shoes in fabric reusable bags. It ultimately depends on your packing style.
READ | Our Worldtrip Packing List
BUY | Osprey Aether 55 (55L)
Our Daypack Items
We have a list of the daypack items we rely on every day, regardless of the country. You can check list down below. For Taiwan, a helpful traveler’s tip is to carry tissues, a small roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and liquid soap in a refillable bottle, as public restrooms may not always have these supplies. While it’s worth noting that Taiwan’s public restrooms are generally well-maintained and almost always provide these necessities, having them on hand ensures you’re always prepared.
Mosquito repellent and sunscreen are also a must, especially in the warmer months.
READ | Everyday Essentials: The Must-Have Items in our Daypack
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Clothing
While Taiwan is generally a modern and cosmopolitan country, it’s important to dress conservatively, especially when visiting religious or cultural sites, such as temples or monasteries. In these places, both men and women should cover their shoulders and knees as a sign of respect. From our experience, this is especially important when visiting Buddhist temples, while at Taoist and Confucian temples, we often saw locals wearing short skirts or shorts. Additionally, Taiwanese culture tends to favor modest clothing, with low-cut tops being uncommon. It’s best to choose t-shirts or tops that cover the shoulders and avoid tight clothing like leggings or body-hugging dresses. However, wearing shorts is generally acceptable and widely seen.
When packing for Taiwan, it’s essential to prepare for its hot and humid climate, especially in the lowlands. Lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen will keep you comfortable during the day. However, winters in the north can be cooler, with temperatures dropping to around 10–15°C (50–59°F), so bring a light jacket. If you’re heading to the mountains, such as Alishan or Taroko, temperatures can be much colder, so layering is key.
When visiting Taiwan’s beaches or hot springs, don’t forget to pack conservative swimwear. Taiwan’s weather can be unpredictable, especially during the summer, so an umbrella or lightweight rain jacket is a practical addition to your bag to stay dry during sudden showers.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential for sightseeing and exploring Taiwan’s beautiful landscapes, while sandals or flip-flops are perfect for trips to the beach or as slippers in hostels. If you’re planning on hiking, be sure to bring sturdy hiking shoes with good grip to tackle Taiwan’s scenic trails and rugged terrain.
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Menstruators Essentials for Taiwan
The public toilets in Taiwan are very clean and widely available. For menstrual cup users, it might not be as easy to change on the go as private toilet stalls are rare.
You will be able to find pads without any issue. You might not be able to find tampons as easy.
Sustainable Recommendations
For your Daypack
We always carry our reusable water bottles since in most countries, including Taiwan, you can refill them with filtered water for free at accommodations. Taiwan makes it especially easy to refill, with an app (iOS/Android) that helps you locate the nearest water stations, which you can use throughout the day while exploring major attractions. Most accommodations also offer refill stations.
If you plan to visit street food markets or bring snacks on hikes, we recommend investing in collapsible food containers and carrying reusable cutlery and metal straws. You can even bring your own bottle to bubble tea shops, and they'll pour your drink into it. We also carry a reusable bag for groceries or beach trips, and it's handy if we need to lighten our luggage at the airport counter, allowing us to transfer some items as our carry-on.
Additionally, we carry a separate travel-size reusable bottle filled with sunscreen for our daypack.
READ | Eco-Friendly Travel: Sustainable Essentials for Your Packing List
Laundry
We recommend packing light, as doing laundry in Taiwan is quick and easy. Laundromats are widely available, often just around the corner, and your clothes will be ready in about an hour. To be prepared, bring a reusable travel-sized bottle with detergent, as not all laundromats provide it.
Don’t forget to pack a laundry mesh bag for both sustainability and to protect your delicates while traveling in Taiwan.
Health & Safety
Safety
Taiwan is ranked as the third safest country in the world, and we always felt completely secure during our trip. Of course, as in any country, it’s still important to be mindful of your belongings. Fun fact: In Taiwan, locals often reserve tables in food courts by simply leaving their bags on the chairs while they order their food!
In Taiwan, the emergency button is a feature commonly found in public places, particularly in restrooms, elevators, and some transport systems, to ensure public safety. These buttons are typically linked to local security or emergency response teams and are designed to be used in situations where assistance is needed quickly, such as in the event of a medical emergency, personal distress, or security concern. The emergency response in Taiwan is efficient and well-coordinated, with the police emergency number 110 and fire/ambulance services 119 available for more serious situations.
Learn more about how we prioritize safety while traveling here.
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Health
Vaccinations
Before traveling to Taiwan, it’s important to ensure you’re up to date on routine vaccinations, as well as consider any additional ones that may be recommended for international travel. It’s always a good idea to visit a healthcare provider or travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to discuss any vaccinations specific to your health history and travel itinerary. Taiwan is a relatively safe destination in terms of infectious diseases, but it’s always better to be prepared.
Recommended Vaccinations for Taiwan:
Routine Vaccinations: Make sure you’re up to date on the standard vaccinations, including:
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP)
Polio
Hepatitis A: The virus can be spread through contaminated food or water, and it’s advisable for travelers to get vaccinated before visiting Taiwan, particularly if you plan on visiting rural or less-developed areas.
Hepatitis B: It is recommended for travelers who may have exposure to blood or bodily fluids, such as those planning on staying long-term, seeking medical treatment, or engaging in high-risk activities.
Typhoid: If you plan to visit more rural areas or eat food from street vendors, the typhoid vaccine is recommended as it protects against foodborne bacteria that can cause infection.
Japanese Encephalitis: This is recommended for travelers who will be spending significant time outdoors in rural areas or near farms, particularly during the warmer months when mosquitoes are more prevalent.
Rabies: While rabies is not a major concern in Taiwan, it’s recommended for travelers who may have close contact with animals, especially for long-term travelers or those planning on hiking in remote areas.
COVID-19: COVID-19 vaccinations are also recommended, and travelers may be required to show proof of vaccination depending on current entry requirements.
Travel Insurance
Travel health insurance is essential for any trip, covering unexpected medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and emergency treatments. It ensures you receive the care you need while protecting you from high medical costs. This is especially important when traveling to unfamiliar destinations or regions with limited healthcare access, where quality medical treatment may not be readily available. To help you find the best coverage for your trip, we’ve put together a guide—here’s what to look for.
Payment Methods
Taiwan is a very credit card-friendly country, and most shops accept card payments without charging transaction fees. However, it’s still good to carry some cash, especially for small eateries and night markets. ATMs are widely available, especially in convenience stores, and many do not charge withdrawal fees.
Many stores and food stalls accept alternative payment methods like LINE Pay, which can be linked to an international credit card. Additionally, IC Cards (Taiwan’s public transport cards) are widely accepted for payments at convenience stores, vending machines, and even some restaurants and attractions.
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