Interesting Quirks in Taiwan, some Tips and Tricks

Hey Folks,
I thought I'd share some Interesting Unique Habits and Quirks that I observed in the Eateries or just some Interesting Observations when I was in Taiwan. 🤔 Just a few Tips and Tricks.

Hopefully this would be useful for anyone who may be planning a Trip there. Enjoy! 😄 If you haven't already, do also check out my 5 Days Solo Taiwan Budget Breakdown (2025) to have an idea of how much to budget for your trip! 🧳

Taiwan Interesting Observation 1

Scooters are Everywhere. Some Taiwanese treat Scooters like how someone would treat a Bicycle. You can see them riding on Roads, even Pedestrian Sidewalks, Everywhere. It seems that where a Bicycle can go, a Scooter can go too.

If you see a Scooter coming towards you while you are crossing the road, Don't Panic and Suddenly Stop Walking. Just look at his/her direction to acknowledge them and continue walking normally. They will know how to siam you.

Also don't panic if you suddenly feel a Scooter just brush past you from the back (especially in Night Markets) or even U-Turn or go in Directions where they normally shouldn't turn.

As such, when crossing any roads, Look BOTH Directions even though it may be a One Way Street. Like i say, some people ride Scooters like they ride Bicycle. Don't get angry about it, this is just part of their Scooter Culture.

Taiwan Interesting Observation 2

Trashcans are Very Rare in Taiwan. Unless the Place is a Popular Tourist Spot, you will not find any Trashcans. Not even the 2 Hostels I stayed in have any Trashcans at their Elevator Area where you'd normally find one. Always carry a Small Bag with you to dispose of any Trash especially if you go Night Markets.

Taiwan Interesting Observation 3

Public Toilets are also Very Rare in Taiwan. Most Eateries also have No Restrooms within. Do take note of this if you are bringing Children with you. If you do manage to find a Public Toilet, its usually Free of Charge to use. I haven't seen any that charges money.

MRT Train Stations and Big Fast Food Franchises like McDonalds are actually the Most Reliable Places to find Trashcans and Restrooms. Many times, I relied on Google Maps to help locate a Nearest McDonalds for this.

Taiwan Interesting Observation 4

Mandarin Chinese is the Main Form of Verbal Communications in Taiwan and will help greatly if you can understand and speak it. Taiwanese can understand our Singaporean Style of Mandarin Chinese. My Own Mandarin Standard is not Super Fluent, Not the type of 一口流利的华语 and I could still Communicate Smoothly with them.

English is very Seldom Spoken, and although Most Young People do understand abit. Most of them are still Much More Fluent and Comfortable with Mandarin. In addition, Menus for Big Franchises or Bigger Eateries will usually have an English Menu, but Smaller Older Looking Eateries may not.

Hokkien is the Main Dialect. Unlike Hong Kong where Cantonese is Very Regularly Used, Hokkien is Optional in Taiwan. Together with English and Mandarin, it was quite interesting to also hear Hokkien being used in Train Announcements. If you can speak Hokkien, feel free to speak it especially to Older, Elderly Taiwanese Folks as it will make Comms even easier.

I seldom hear Younger Taiwanese communicate 100% in Hokkien, except when expressing Frustration or Teasing Small Playful Vulgarities at each other for Fun.

Taiwan Interesting Observation 5

From my Personal Experience having visited Taiwan 2 times already back in 2019 and 2025, I find Taiwanese Folks in General to be Very Polite, Friendly and Hospitable. ❤️ Alot of the Eateries are actually really Focused on Customer Service, some almost like Japanese Level of Standard. ❤️ Customer Service just seems to come Naturally with Taiwanese Eateries. I mostly never really had any issues with the Service Level at all.

Check out this Adorable 大哥 I met at Raohe Night Market. ❤️ He's a Really Friendly Chap with a Good Cheer! 😄 His Genuine Lovely Smile really represents the Warm Taiwanese Hospitality that I've experienced. ❤️ I certainly won't mind re-visiting Taiwan again in the Future! 靠腰啦, 台湾我想死你了! 😄

Taiwan Interesting Observation 6

If you do Money Currency Exchange for TWD, you will likely be given Mostly TWD1000 Notes. Don't worry about rushing to break it as its not really that Big of a Note. Although if you have TWD100 or TWD500 it would be Preferred.

The Stored Value Contactless Transport Card that Taiwan uses is called "EasyCard 悠遊卡". Not only can it be used in Taipei, it can also be used in Taichung and probably other Provinces too i reckon? They can also be used as Contactless Payment in some Eateries and Vending Machines.

Taiwan Interesting Observation 7

Keto Diet, not eating Carbs is not Widely Practiced but also Not Entirely Unheard of unlike in Hong Kong. Most won't act Surprised if you request No Rice and just Order their Meat Dishes. If you want No Carbs, go ahead and ask for it. Obviously for Iconic Rice Dishes like 卤肉饭 or Mee Sua, it would be Super Wierd if you don't eat Rice/Carbs lah.

Taiwan Interesting Observation 8

Taiwan Eateries Almost Never Ask if you would like to Order any Drinks when you Order Food. This is a Completely Different Culture in Malaysia. Especially Penang where ordering a Drink is almost a Requirement. If you want a Drink of course you can go ahead to order them. If not, they will NEVER ask if you want any so much so that it almost feels like they don't even sell Drinks at all.

Taiwan Interesting Observation 9

Taiwan Early March Weather is Cooling, Not Cold. The further North the Region, the Cooler it is. Southern Regions tend to be Warmer in March. That said, even for Northern Regions, it does get much Warmer, almost Close to Singapore's Level of Sunny when the Afternoon Sun is up. 6.00 pm in the Evening is when it gets Cooler again. Rain will of course make it Cooler too.

Leave your Heavy Winter Wear at home. You can probably get by with a Light Sweater. Or if you are like me, No Need Sweater if you enjoy the Aircon Coolness. Every Taiwanese I see do wear Sweaters, even in MRT Trains where its actually abit Warm. No idea how they can tahan the Stuffiness. Maybe they're used to it.

Heck I'm the only one that did not wear any Sweater and just walked everywhere with just a Light T-Shirt. I reckon the Taiwanese probably think I'm crazy for walking around like this. Its fine for a Singaporean actually, hahaha because Early March Taiwan Weather just feels like a 19C Aircon for us. 

Taiwan Interesting Observation 10

Taiwan is a Very Pedestrian Friendly Country and you can walk almost Everywhere with No Issues as long as you have the Fitness for it. Even if a Place has Construction Work, most likely they will have Barrier Paths made just for Pedestrians. That said though, some areas don't have Pedestrian Sidewalks and you have to walk on the Roads, so do look out especially for Scooters. 

Taiwan Interesting Observation 11

Just like in Japan or Hong Kong, (not sure about Korea) there may be No Escalators or Elevators in MRT Stations. Be prepared to Climb Stairs, especially troublesome when you bring a Luggage along as I see some Tourists struggle with. 

Protip: Backpack and Travel Light instead of using Luggage to make your life easier especially if you Solo Travel. If you Backpack, you can also skip Long Luggage Check-In Queues at the Airport too.

Singapore is perhaps the only Country I know so far where 100% of our Train Stations have BOTH Escalators AND Elevators. Hahaha so if you have travelled Overseas more, you will really appreciate our Singapore MRT Stations for all the Escalators and Elevators they installed. 

Taiwan Interesting Observation 12

The Mainstream Ride Hailing Service in Taiwan is Uber. You need to register a Credit / Debit Card for it as it doesn't accept Paypal. Using Uber procedure is same as Grab and I feel is Very Fast and Smooth too. Never have any issues with Uber in Taiwan. Prices feel affordable for the Distance covered.

Taiwan is a Really Beautiful Country.

Check out this World Famous Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival 平溪天燈節 taken when I first visited Taiwan back in 2019. It was truly a Magnificent Experience that No Words and No Videos can capture how Magical it was. It can be Tiring, but still really worth to visit at least once in your Life. People who have visited this event before will know what I'm saying.



Alright, as the Saying Goes: "所为香港出明星, 台湾出歌星."
We'll be ending this Post with this Classic Iconic Taiwan Hokkien Song "愛拼才會贏" by 葉啟田. 

Hahaha especially if you're a Chinese, no matter which Dialect you are from, you will most likely be already very familiar with this Song. Credits to Youtube Channel K歌王迷你KTV for this HD Version.

And so these are some of the Interesting Quirks and Habits that I've observed when I was in Taiwan.
Of course these are only my Personal Observations.

Have you been to Taiwan before? Feel free to share more Interesting Quirks and Habits that you noticed when you were there down in the Comments! Cheers! 😄