Best Place to Exchange Money in Taipei

Where to change money in Taipei

Taiwan's Tourism Administration and the Taipei City Government's travel site both say foreign cash can be changed at banks and hotels that the government has designated. Banks open 09:00 to 15:30, Monday to Friday, and close at weekends and on national holidays. Each exchange comes with a receipt; keep it, because unspent NT dollars can only be changed back if you show it. We could not confirm exchange desks in department stores or at the airport from two sources.

• Designated banks, across the city - Weekdays 09:00 to 15:30. Keep the receipt with your passport, as you need it to change NT dollars back later.
• Designated hotels, front desks - Listed by both tourism sites alongside banks; ask the rate and any fee first, and keep the slip.

Changing money at the airport

Taoyuan International Airport is linked to central Taipei by the Airport MRT. Express trains stop at Taipei Main Station (A1), A3, A8 and the two terminal stations, A12 for Terminal 1 and A13 for Terminal 2. On the operator's timetable, which it calls a guide only, the first express leaves Taipei Main Station at 05:30 and the last at 23:00. We could not confirm the single fare officially, so check it at the machine.

Taoyuan Metro sells two joint tickets at A1, A12 and A13: a round trip on the Airport MRT plus a 48-hour Taipei Metro pass for NT$520, or with a 72-hour pass for NT$600. A lost ticket is not replaced, and refunds are only for the whole set, less NT$20. At the border, any foreign cash above US$10,000 has to be declared, and carrying NT$100,000 or more in Taiwanese notes needs Central Bank permission. We could not open an official page on the airport's exchange counters or cash machines.

ATMs and cards in Taipei

The Tourism Administration names American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Diners Club among the cards accepted in Taiwan, and says some foreign-exchange banks and tourist businesses cash travellers' cheques, though many local shops will not. Carry NT dollars for markets, food stalls and small shops.

We found no official page giving the charge for a UK card at Taiwanese cash machines, so check the screen for an operator fee before confirming and expect your own bank's fee as well. If a terminal offers pounds or NT dollars, pick NT dollars.

Paying for transport in Taipei

Taipei Metro gates take a contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, Diners Club or Discover card, or Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay linked to one, tapped on the bank-card reader. On an iPhone the screen must be unlocked unless you have made the card your Express Transit card. The metro charges a bank-card ride at the normal single-journey fare and adds no fee of its own, though your UK bank may charge for a foreign transaction. If your card also carries an EasyCard purse, the reader you use decides which balance pays.

An EasyCard is the alternative. The metro's price list shows the adult card at NT$100 and NT$120, and an adult card earns NT$8 off when you change between metro and bus within an hour, a discount that bank cards do not get. The card also works on buses, the Maokong Gondola and YouBike bikes.

Good to know

• Hotels and restaurants often add a 10% service charge, say both Taiwan's Tourism Administration and Taipei's city travel site; a tip on top is not required, though staff appreciate one for good service.
• Spend at least NT$2,000 in one day at the same designated 'Taiwan Tax Refund' store and you can reclaim tax. Before checking in your bags, take your passport and the claim form to an E-VAT refund machine, then collect the money at a designated bank or cash counter at the departure airport. Some labelled stores give small refunds on the spot.
• Banks shut on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays, so change cash on a weekday or use a designated hotel desk.