Taiwan packing list: what to pack

Packing for Taiwan in October

Our 22 days in Taiwan took us from Taipei’s busy streets to the beaches of Kenting and up into the misty forest at Alishan. That’s a lot of different weather for one bag, so here’s what we’d pack for the same trip.

What to pack for Taiwan: the short version

• Passport with at least six months left, and the online arrival card done before you land
• New Taiwan dollars in cash for the night markets
• A Type A/B plug adapter (Taiwan runs on 110V)
• Light, breathable clothes, plus a waterproof jacket or small umbrella
• A warm layer for Alishan and the mountains
• Something that covers shoulders and knees for temples
• Comfortable walking shoes, and sandals for Kenting and Green Island
• Swimwear
• Sunscreen, insect repellent and a reusable water bottle (fill it from filtered water dispensers, not the tap)
• A power bank and a small waterproof pouch

Documents, money and connectivity

Your passport needs at least six months’ validity when you arrive, and UK passport holders need to fill in the online arrival card before landing (see our Taiwan travel tips). Keep digital and printed copies of your bookings. Carry some New Taiwan dollars, as night markets are mostly cash only. Sockets are Type A/B at 110V, so bring an adapter and check your chargers work at 110 to 240V. For data we used a Nomad eSIM: with our code MARK58QY you get $5 off your first plan. It’s our referral code, so we get a small credit too.

Clothing

Pack light, breathable clothes for the heat and humidity, plus a waterproof jacket or a small umbrella, because the weather turned on us more than once: it stopped our Taroko plans in Hualien and made the climb up Elephant Mountain a wet one. Bring a warm layer for the mountains: in Alishan we were up at 5am for the sunrise train. Cover your shoulders and knees for temple visits.

Gadgets

A power bank keeps your phone going through long train journeys and days out. Bring plenty of storage for photos, your charging cables and a small waterproof pouch for the rain and the ferry to Green Island.

Footwear

Comfortable walking shoes matter most, for city streets, the Sun Moon Lake cycle path and the steps up Elephant Mountain, which get slippery in the rain. Sandals are useful for the beaches at Kenting and on Green Island. Some places ask you to take your shoes off, so a pair that slips on and off easily helps.

Personal care

Take high-factor sunscreen and insect repellent. A reusable water bottle is worth having, but don’t fill it straight from the tap: Taiwan’s tap water should be boiled or filtered first, and many hotels and stations have filtered water dispensers. A small first aid kit and hand sanitiser cover the basics, and you’ll want swimwear for Kenting and Green Island.

Useful extras

A light daypack is handy for day trips. Laundry detergent sheets save space on a long trip, and a few plastic bags keep damp clothes away from everything else. A translation app helps outside the big cities.