Taiwan Travel Guide 2026: Food, Cash, and What to Know Before You Go
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Taiwan is one of Asia's most underrated travel destinations — dense with incredible food, accessible by excellent public transit, genuinely friendly to foreign visitors, and significantly more affordable than Japan or South Korea. Here's everything you need for a 2026 Taiwan trip.
Taiwan's Payment Reality
Taiwan sits between Japan's cash-heavy culture and Korea's near-cashless infrastructure. Cards are widely accepted in hotels, department stores, chain restaurants, and convenience stores. Night markets, local restaurants, traditional shops, and temple areas are predominantly cash-only. Budget NT$1,500–3,000 (approximately $45–95 USD) per day in cash for a mixed itinerary.
The New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) uses coins (NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, NT$50) and notes (NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000). The NT$50 coin is the most useful for small cash transactions. Unlike Japan's complex six-denomination coin system, Taiwan's coins are simpler to manage.
Taipei: The Essential Guide
Night Markets
Taiwan's night markets are the country's defining food experience. Shilin Night Market (largest, most famous), Raohe Street Night Market (more local atmosphere), and Ningxia Night Market (best traditional snacks) all operate on cash. Dishes run NT$30–150 each — a full night market dinner costs NT$300–600. Come with NT$1,000 in small bills and coins.
Din Tai Fung
The original Din Tai Fung in Xinyi accepts cards. The xiao long bao (soup dumplings) set meal runs NT$600–1,200 per person. Queues are long — arrive at opening (11am) or after 2pm for shorter waits.
Jiufen Old Street
The hillside tea house village that inspired Studio Ghibli's aesthetic (sort of — the connection is disputed but the comparison is apt). One hour from Taipei by bus (NT$96 cash on bus). Tea houses charge NT$150–300 for tea service. Snack vendors throughout are cash-only.
Beyond Taipei
Tainan: Taiwan's Ancient Capital
Tainan is Taiwan's food city — older, slower, and more traditional than Taipei. The breakfast culture alone justifies a visit: milkfish congee, beef soup, dan bing (egg crepes). Most Tainan restaurants are cash-only, prices are lower than Taipei, and the density of good food per square kilometer is extraordinary.
Taroko Gorge
Taiwan's most dramatic natural landscape — a marble gorge in Hualien County accessible by train from Taipei (2 hours, NT$440 by Taroko Express). The gorge is freely accessible; shuttle buses within the park cost NT$100–200 cash. Bring water and cash for food at the few stalls near major viewpoints.
Getting Around Taiwan
The EasyCard (equivalent to Japan's Suica) works on Taipei MRT, buses, Taiwan High Speed Rail, and convenience store purchases. Buy at any MRT station (NT$100 deposit + initial load). Single MRT fares: NT$20–65. The High Speed Rail connects Taipei to Tainan in 1.5 hours (NT$1,080) and Taipei to Kaohsiung in 2 hours (NT$1,490).
Taiwan vs Japan: Key Differences for Travelers
Taiwan is warmer, cheaper, and more casual than Japan. The food culture is equally excellent but more accessible — no need to study which restaurant requires reservations months in advance. Cash management is simpler because the coin system is less complex. However, the principle of having organized cash for street food and market situations applies equally in both countries.