TRAVEL INFORMATION

Language

Language-Mandarin is the official language. English is spoken quite extensively.

Weather

Weather-Taiwan enjoys warm weather between June to September. The average temperature in September is 27°C. For more weather information, please visit the Central Weather Bureau.

Time

Time-Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). You may use the Time Zone Converter to convert the CST time to your local time.

Currency & Exchange Rate

Currency & Exchange Rate-New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) is used in Taiwan. Transaction by major credit card and mobile payment such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are also acceptable at convenience stores or restaurants. The exchange rate is around US$1 to NT$30. Our dollars come in the form of bills and coins. Exchange service is available at the airport. banks, hotels, and large department stores. You may use the visit currency converter to exchange for your local currency.

Tipping & Tax

Tipping & Tax-Sales tax is included in the listed price. Tipping is not customary in Taiwan, but some hotels and restaurants automatically add a 10% service fee to the bill.

Telephone & Wi-Fi

Telephone & Wi-Fi-Free public Wi-Fi service is available across Taipei city both indoors and outdoors. The SSID of Wi-Fi access is TPE-Free. Visitors who wish to use the service can set up an account with a valid passport or entry permit at Visitor Information Center including Taipei Main Station and Songshan Airport. In addition to the free Wi-Fi access, a payable Wi-Fi card is also available in most of 7-11 convenience stores across Taiwan. Prepaid access cards can be purchased over the counter at the stores, and the costs vary.

Electricity

Electricity-Taiwan uses an electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles. Many buildings also have 220-volt sockets. Visitors with appliances of different voltages are encouraged to bring adapters with them.

Transportation

Transport from Airport to Academia Sinica:
1. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

By Taxi:
- Terminal 1& 2 Taxi Service Center are located outside the Arrivals Lobby.
- Time: approx. 50 minutes
- Fee: approx. NT$1,415 -1,840 (approx. US$47- 61)

By Bus:
- No. 1843 (Drop off at MRT Nangang Exhibition Center Station(Nangang Rd.)) → No. 205/276/306Shuttle/620/645 (Drop off at Academia Sinica)
- Time: approx. 95 minutes
- Website: https://www.taiwanbus.tw/eBUSPage/Query/QueryResult.aspx?rno=18430&rn=1622703560021 ; https://ebus.gov.taipei/Dybus.aspx
- Fee: NT$140 + 15 = NT$155 (approx. US$5)
  *Change is not available on bus. Please prepare the exact amount of money.

By MRT:
- Airport Line(Commuter) (Drop off at Taipei Main Station) → Bannan Line (Drop off at Nangang Exhibition Center) → Taxi/Uber or Bus No. 205/276/306Shuttle/620/645 (Drop off at Academia Sinica)
- Time: approx. 85 minutes
- Fee:
  - NT$150 + 35 + 80 - 105 = NT$265 - 290 (by Taxi/Uber, approx. US$9 - 10)
  - NT$150 + 35 + 15 = NT$200 (by Bus, approx. US$7)
    *Change is not available on bus. Please prepare the exact amount of money.

2. Taipei Songsang Airport

By Taxi:
- Taxi rank is located outside the Arrivals Lobby and the road south of the gas station.
- Time: approx. 30 minutes
- Fee: approx. NT$310 - 405 (approx. US$ 10 - 13)

By Bus:
- No. 262/262Shuttle/275/707/906/909/913/967/967Shuttle/967Sub (Drop off at Taipei Arena) → No. 306/306 Shuttle (Drop off at Academia Sinica)
- Time: approx. 60 minutes
- Website: https://ebus.gov.taipei/Dybus.aspx
- Fee: NT$30 (approx. US$1)
  *Change is not available on bus. Please prepare the exact amount of money.

By MRT:
- Wenhu Line (Drop off at Nangang Exhibition Center) → Taxi/Uber or Bus No. 205/276/306Shuttle/620/645 (Drop off at Academia Sinica)
- Time: approx. 45 minutes
- Fee:
  - NT$35 + 80 - 105 = NT$115 - 140 (by Taxi/Uber, approx. US$4 - 5)
  - NT$35 + 15 = NT$50 (by Bus, approx. US$2)
    *Change is not available on bus. Please prepare the exact amount of money.

Transport in Taipei:
1. Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS)
The system operates according to a spoke-hub distribution paradigm, with six lines running radially outward from central Taipei. The metro system operates from 6 am to midnight daily with extended services during special events. Trains operate at intervals of 1.5 to 15 minutes depending on the line and time of day. A "Single-journey Ticket" costs between NT$20 to NT$ 65 depends on distance. A NT$200 One-day Pass purchased from a service booth will allow unlimited travel among all MRT lines within one day. Smoking, eating, drinking or gum chewing are strictly prohibited on all MRT trains.

2. Taxi
Taipei has a huge fleet of taxis. Charges are NT$70 for the first 1.5 km and NT$5 for each additional 300 meters. An additional NT$5 is charged for every two minutes of waiting, and a NT$20 charge is added to fares between 11 pm and 6am. Tips are not required.

3. Bus
The bus fare of the Taipei Joint Bus System is based on sections (fare zones). For 2-or-more-section routes, the addtional sectional fare is charged at the place of alighting if the trip crosses the interaction point (or buffering zone).

4. YouBike
With an increasing amount of YouBike parking stations located around Taipei, the more modern YouBike service is an excellent way to get around Taipei. Here’s how you can start renting from Taipei’s YouBike 2.0 services to explore more of the city within minutes.

5. EasyCard
The EasyCard Corporation launched a contactless smartcard, integrating the buses of Greater Taipei and the MRT system, which has reached a key milestone for the electronic transport ticket system. Now the EasyCard has extended its reach to island-wide public transit, such as Taiwan High Speed Rail, Taiwan Railways, intercity coach services, YouBike and Blue Ferry. Moreover, the card brings convenience to people by serving as a tool for small-value payments at designated shops like convenience stores, supermarkets and restaurants as well as used at leisure facilities, hospitals, government agencies and library self-checkout kiosks. Here’s the information of using and topping up the EasyCard.

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