What to Pack for Taipei (and What to Buy When You Get There)
By Raytio Ray
Humid summers, cool damp winters, 110V plugs. What to bring to Taiwan, what to leave behind and what is easy and cheap to buy in Taipei.
Pack for the climate you'll actually live in
Most first-time visitors pack for a holiday. If you're moving to Taipei for months or years, it helps to pack for the daily reality: humid summers, mild but damp winters and a lot of walking and MRT rides.
The good news is that almost anything can be bought in Taipei. The question is what's worth bringing so you're comfortable in your first weeks, and what you'd rather buy locally.
Documents (keep originals and copies)
- Passport and visa or entry documents
- Letters that support your stay, such as an offer letter or admission letter
- Passport-size photos, since you'll likely need them for paperwork such as your ARC. See our guide from visa to ARC.
- Copies of your degrees or certificates if your work or school might ask
- Vaccination or medical records if relevant
- Address in Chinese for your first accommodation. Save it on your phone and print it.
Electronics
Taiwan uses 110V at 60Hz, with two flat-pin sockets (Type A and B). If your devices come from a country using 220 to 240V, check that they support 110V, or you may need a converter. Many phone and laptop chargers already handle a wide range, but hair dryers, kettles and other heating appliances often don't. A simple plug adapter is worth packing. Anything else is cheap to buy locally.
Clothing
- Summer (roughly May to October) is hot and humid, with regular heavy rain. Breathable, quick-dry fabrics work best. Heavy cotton and denim stay damp.
- Winter is usually mild in Taipei but damp and chilly, and most apartments have no central heating. Layers are better than one big coat.
- Rain gear. An umbrella and a light rain jacket. Umbrellas are sold everywhere.
- Shoes. Bring comfortable walking shoes. If you have a larger shoe or clothing size, it can be harder to find your size in local stores, so consider bringing basics.
- Indoor slippers. Many homes have a no-shoes policy.
Health and personal items
- Prescription medication. Bring enough for your first weeks and a copy of the prescription. Rules on some medications differ by country, so check what's allowed before you travel.
- Preferred toiletries or products. Most brands are available, but specific brands or sizes may be harder to find.
- Contact lenses, glasses or anything specialized that you can't easily replace.
What to leave at home
- Bulky bedding. Pillows, sheets and blankets are easy to buy and often cheaper.
- Heavy kitchenware. Basic cookware and appliances are available at affordable prices.
- Big appliances. Voltage and plug differences make them impractical.
- Excess clothing. Laundry is easy, and you'll likely buy things you need.
What to buy after you arrive
- Bedding and towels: at large retailers, IKEA, and local shops.
- Basic kitchen items and cleaning supplies: at supermarkets and variety stores.
- A dehumidifier: many people find one useful, especially in humid months. Our guide to humidity and mold explains why.
- A SIM card or eSIM: at the airport or in town.
- An EasyCard: see our guide to the MRT and EasyCard.
Two things you don't need to pack or haul
Drinking water. Most people in Taipei don't drink straight from the tap; they boil it or use a filter, partly because of older pipes and building water tanks. Don't pack a filter pitcher, and you don't need to carry cases of bottled water home every week either. Our water filter service installs a filtered drinking water system in your apartment, talks to your landlord about it in Chinese, and reminds you when the filter needs replacing.
A cleaning kit for move-in day. Rentals are often handed over less clean than you'd like, and scrubbing a whole apartment is a rough way to spend your first weekend. If you'd rather start in a clean home, we do move-in deep cleans before you unpack. Both are quoted individually.
Furnished or unfurnished?
What you need to buy depends a lot on your apartment. Our guide to furnished versus unfurnished rentals explains what "furnished" usually includes, which helps you decide whether to buy a few basics or nothing at all.
Packing tips
1. Pack light for the first stage. You'll probably move once you find a long-term place.
2. Put the essentials in your carry-on: documents, medication, chargers and a change of clothes.
3. Leave some room. You'll likely accumulate things quickly.
If you'd like help settling in once you arrive, from the apartment search to your first days, see our services page.