Practical Information

Northern Taiwan has a subtropical climate.Daytime temperatures in Taipei in September typically reach around 31°C (88°F), with evening temperatures dropping to approximately 26°C (79°F).
Participants are advised to bring light, breathable clothing and an umbrella or raincoat, as short afternoon showers are common during this month.

The official currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD), available in the following denominations:

Coins: $1, $5, $10, $50
Notes: $100, $200, $500, $1000

Almost all vendors in Taipei accept cash. Most shops, hotels and restaurants also accept major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay), but not traveler’s cheques. As of May 2025, the exchange rates are approximately USD 1 to NTD 30 and EUR 1 to NTD 34. Be sure to check out the latest rates.

Banks operate on Monday to Friday (except public holidays) from 09:30 to 15:30. You may exchange currency at airports, banks and post offices; but don’t forget to bring your passport with you. You can also use your domestic credit or debit card to withdraw NTD from ATMs across Taiwan. Check with your card issuers in advance.

The official language in Taiwan is Mandarin. While English is widely spoken and the Taiwanese are known for their friendliness, it is generally easy to ask for help or clarify directions. Most signs for destinations and on public transportation are also in English.

We recommend carrying Mandarin translations of the places you plan to visit, as well as a hotel address card to show to taxi drivers, who may have limited English proficiency.

Smoking is prohibited in all indoor, most public places, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations, and bus stops. Please pay attention to non-smoking signs.

Electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles is used.
Participants from Europe, Australia or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or transformer.

Taiwan is in the UTC+8 time zone, 8 hours ahead of GMT.