Taiwan is one of Asia's most underrated travel destinations and Taipei is one of its greatest cities. Night markets, world-class tea, accessible mountains, and some of the friendliest people in Asia. Here is the 2026 guide.
Taiwan eSIM Coverage
Taiwan has excellent 4G and growing 5G coverage. Main networks are Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEasTone. Our Global eSIM covers Taiwan with the best available network.
Coverage note: Taipei city and all MRT lines: excellent. Jiufen mountain village: good. Taroko Gorge national park: Chunghwa partial on main road, drops in gorge. Sun Moon Lake: Chunghwa good in town areas.
Taipei Essentials
| Attraction | Signal | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Shilin Night Market | Excellent | Largest night market in Taiwan. Arrive after 6pm. Try oyster vermicelli, stinky tofu, bubble tea. |
| Taipei 101 Observatory | Excellent even at top | Book online at taipei-101.com.tw. Night view from 89F is spectacular. |
| Jiufen Old Street (1 hour from Taipei) | Good in town, drops on steep stairs | Best at dusk when lanterns light up. The Spirited Away teahouse inspiration. Weekdays less crowded. |
| Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) | Excellent at summit | 40-minute hike to the best Taipei 101 viewpoint. Sunset is stunning. Signal strong at top. |
| Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall | Excellent (open plaza) | Guard changing ceremony every hour on the hour. Grand white marble architecture. |
| Beitou Hot Springs (30min by MRT) | Good throughout district | Public outdoor hot spring pools from TWD 40 (USD 1.30). Bring your own towel. |
Taiwan Night Market Culture
Night markets are Taiwan soul food. Beyond Shilin:
- Raohe Street Night Market (Songshan): More local, less touristy than Shilin. Try the black pepper bun at the entrance.
- Ningxia Night Market (Datong): Traditional Taiwanese dishes, beloved by locals.
- Dongmen Night Market: Near Yongkang Street, the famous bubble tea neighbourhood.
Getting Around Taipei
- MRT (metro): Excellent, cheap, clean, covers the entire city. EasyCard for tap-and-go on metro, buses, and some convenience stores.
- YouBike (public bicycles): Available at every MRT station. Use EasyCard to rent. Great for flat riverside paths.
- Uber works well in Taiwan. Taxis also metered and honest.
What Makes Taiwan Special
- Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) are on every corner and genuinely useful: hot food, ATM, bill payment, printing, parcel pickup
- Free public WiFi at MRT stations, temples, and many parks
- Bubble tea: was invented in Taichung but perfected in Taipei. Chun Shui Tang and Tiger Sugar are the classics.
- People are extraordinarily helpful to lost tourists even without shared language
Global eSIM for Taiwan
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