Taiwan Packing List

I’ve visited Taiwan many times and currently live here. I put together several lists of things to pack, depending on your intentions.

I’ll cover these points:

Let’s pack.

How to Pack for a Taiwan Trip

Aside from temperature fluctuations in winter, what you’ll pack for Taiwan remains the same throughout most of the year. You’ll find most items you need in Taiwan at low prices, like:

  • Insect repellant
  • Sunscreen
  • Eye drops
  • Some medicines (like acetaminophen)
  • Umbrellas

It rains a lot in Taiwan. And it’s humid frequently. You’ll need to combat both umbrellas and body wipes. The latter will save you when your body erupts sweat when walking outside, since you could use the wipes to remove your sweat (and stinkiness).

What to Pack for Traveling to Taiwan in Summer & Autumn

Pack these items when traveling to Taiwan in the summer and fall:

Backpack coverInsect repellentSunscreen
DeodorantReusable water bottleDummy phone & wallet
ClothingSaline nasal sprayPackable jacket
High-top bootsFemale hygiene productsSanitizing wipes
MedicationCondomsCopy of travel documents
Portable power bankPassport wallet/Purse/Day packEye drops
Unlocked smartphoneTravel adapterInternational Driving Permit
VPNPortable Wireless RouterLip balm
KF94 Face MaskDurable umbrella
Taiwan packing list.

Average temperatures throughout summer and autumn in Taiwan are as follows:

MonthAvg. Weather (°F)Avg. Weather (°C)
March60.4°F–71.8°F15.8°C–22.1°C
April78.3°F–66.2°F25.7°C–19°C
May84.6°F–72.1°F29.2°C–22.3°C
June76.3°F–89.6°F24.6°C–32°C
July93.7°F–79.3°F34.3°C–26.3°C
August79°F–92.8°F26.1°C–33.8°C
September88°F–76.6°F31.1°C–24.8°C
October72.1°F–81.5°F22.3°C–27.5°C
Average temperatures in Taiwan for summer and fall.

What to Pack for Traveling to Taiwan in Winter

Pack these items when visiting Taiwan in winter:

Backpack coverInsect repellentSunscreen
DeodorantReusable water bottleDummy phone & wallet
ClothingSaline nasal sprayPackable jacket
High-top bootsFemale hygiene productsSanitizing wipes
MedicationCondomsCopy of travel documents
Portable power bankPassport wallet/Purse/Day packEye drops
Unlocked smartphoneTravel adapterInternational Driving Permit
Jacket/coat
Travel packing list for winters in Taiwan.

Pack the same as you would for the winter, except you’ll need warmer clothing. Regardless of when visiting, you’ll need an umbrella. I recommend buying these at convenience stores. I found 65” umbrellas at Family Mart for NT$150.

Taiwan’s average temperatures during winter are as follows:

  • November: 66.7 °F–75.6 °F
    • 19.3 °C–24.2 °C
  • December: 60.1 °F–69.3 °F
    • 15.6 °C–20.7 °C
  • January: 57 °F–66.4 °F
    • 13.9 °C–19.1 °C
  • February: 57.6 °F–67.3 °F
    • 14.2 °C–19.6 °C

Apps to Download Before Traveling to Taiwan

Apps to help you navigate Taiwan easier include:

  • Google Maps: to have offline maps of Taiwan and get directions, information & schedules of places to visit
  • Uber: to book rides with drivers who can speak English and accept credit cards
  • YouBike: to rent public bicycles in Taipei, Kaohsiung and other cities with bike lanes
  • Taiwan Railway: to check train schedules, fares, & availability for traveling around Taiwan by rail
  • LINE: to communicate with locals who use this instant-messaging app widely.
  • Bus+: to track bus routes, stops, schedules and availability in Taipei, Kaohsiung, & other cities
  • Go! Taipei Metro: to plan your trips on Taipei’s subway system with maps, fares & real-time information
  • T Express: to book tickets for Taiwan’s high-speed rail service that connects major cities across the island
  • Google Translate: to translate text, speech, handwriting, images & websites between 109 languages, including Chinese (Traditional) and English
  • Easy Currency Converter: converts currency offline

How To Pack a Carry-on for One Bag Travel to Taiwan

Pack light with these items:

Backpack coverInsect repellentSunscreen
2 pairs of clothingReusable water bottleDummy phone & wallet
CondomsFemale hygiene productsPackable jacket
MedicationSanitizing wipesCopy of travel documents
Portable power bankPassport wallet/Purse/Day packEye drops
Unlocked smartphoneTravel adapterInternational Driving Permit
Travel adapter for A/B sockets
One bag travel packing list when visiting Taiwan.

Some Taiwan hotels and hostels offer laundry services, which will require you to pack less clothing. Otherwise, night markets and stores like Uniqlo offer affordable (and decent-quality) clothes.

If you have other things you’ll need to pack (e.g., portable CPAP), bring these as well. Though, it may make 1-backpack travel more difficult.

What to Pack When Moving to Taiwan

In addition to items you’d pack for traveling, bring these items if you’re living in Taiwan for over a year:

Item to BringWhy to Bring It
Travel AdapterBring these to use devices that don’t support types A & B plugs
DeodorantTaiwan doesn’t have a wide selection
Certain skin care productsIt’s difficult to find some popular skin products in Taiwan, unless you buy them online
Laptop varietyYou’ll find better laptop deals outside Taiwan
CPAP machinesThey’re expensive in Taiwan
SupplementsThey’re expensive in Taiwan
Vintage video gamesIf you’re a collector
List of items that are hard to find in Taiwan.

If you prefer aluminum-free deodorant, you won’t find many options. I’ve seen Arm & Hammer aluminum-free deodorant pop up in some stores within the last few years. But if you prefer other bands, you may have to order them online.

Many import shops on Shopee offer foreign and hard-to-find topics at a hiked price. It’s how I get my supplements. Costco does offer a wide selection of supplements, but mostly basic stuff like vitamin C and Lutein.

Buy CPAP machines outside Taiwan. From what I understand, they’re costly here. Though, I couldn’t find the exact prices.

Electronics in your home country will likely cost less than in Taiwan. Since Taiwan’s a smaller market, electronics manufacturers allegedly charge more for their products. For instance, you’ll likely find cheaper iPhones in the U.S.

Apps to Download Before Moving to Taiwan

Apps I use daily as a Taiwan expat are:

  1. LINE: how I communicate with everyone
  2. Go! Taipei Metro: fantastic for knowing when I’ll reach a station & the journey price
  3. Microsoft Translate & Google Translate: Google’s annoying because it uses Simplified Chinese as default
    1. I occasionally use Microsoft’s translator (it’s decent)
  4. Google Maps: great for offline navigation
  5. Surfshark VPN: I don’t trust public Wi-Fi 
  6. EZ Way: for customs clearance
  7. Pleco: great tool for learning Mandarin Chinese
  8. Taiwan NHI app: for paying health insurance bills

I don’t take buses and trains often, though I should.

Important Phone Numbers in Taiwan

Phone numbers to know when visiting Taiwan include:

ServicePhone Number
Police110
Fire and Ambulance119
Repair Services112
Time117
Weather Forecast166
Freeway Condition Information168
Center for Disease Control Hotline1922
Anti-Fraud Hotline165
Coast Guard118
Emergency phone numbers in Taiwan.

FAQs

Keep reading to find frequently asked questions about packing for visiting (or living in) Taiwan.

What Do People Usually Wear in Taiwan?

In summer people wear thin clothes like cotton or linen. In winter, people wear jackets and sweaters.

Wrapping Up

What you’ll need when visiting Taiwan remains the same in most parts of the year. Certain medical conditions and needs will require you to adjust your packing. And I can’t help you there.

Require more information on traveling to or living in Taiwan? Explore my other guides.

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person standing on top of Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan City, Taiwan

About Theo

Theodore began first experienced the wonders of traveling when visiting Vietnam. Afterward, he went crazy and ventured to at least… More about Theo