Taiwan eSIM
Mobile data for your trip to Taiwan. Install at home, switch it on when you land.
Network: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, T Star (5G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Taiwan. Networks: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, T Star (5G). Uses several local networks and switches automatically when one has no coverage.
- Validity
- 3 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Taiwan: the quick facts
Taiwan is night markets and bubble tea, the skyline of Taipei, old hillside towns like Jiufen, and marble gorges and mountain lakes a train ride away. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our Taiwan eSIM with hotspot keeps you online from Taoyuan Airport to Taroko Gorge.
- CurrencyNew Taiwan dollar (TWD, NT$)
- PlugsType A and B, 110 VSame as the US
- LanguageMandarin, with English signs on the MRT and at train stations
- Emergency110 for police, 119 for ambulance and fire
- Taxi appsUber and Taiwan Taxi
- NetworksChunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and T Star (5G where available)
- Time zoneUTC+8 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in Taiwan
Most trips start in Taipei. Jiufen and Keelung are easy day trips, and the high-speed rail and local trains take you to Sun Moon Lake and Hualien. Our founder's guide to the best photo spots of Taipei has tips for several of these places.
Photos by Peter, except Jiufen and Sun Moon Lake (Lisanto 李奕良) and Taroko Gorge (Jason Howell) on Unsplash.
Taipei 101
The 508-metre tower in the Xinyi district. Ride up to the observatory, or photograph it from a side street at blue hour. Take the MRT Red Line to Taipei 101/World Trade Center.
Elephant Mountain
Around 20 minutes of stairs to the best skyline and sunset view of Taipei, with Taipei 101 right in front of you. Take the MRT Red Line to Xiangshan, Exit 2.
Jiufen
An old hillside town above the sea, with tea houses, red lanterns and narrow lanes full of snacks. It is around an hour from Taipei by bus. Go on a weekday and stay until the lanterns light up.
Keelung
The colourful houses of Zhengbin Port, around an hour by train from Taipei and then a short bus ride. Stay for the famous Keelung night market in the evening.
Sun Moon Lake
A large mountain lake in central Taiwan. Cycle the lakeside path, hop between the piers by boat or take the ropeway up the hills. Buses run from the high-speed rail station in Taichung.
Taroko Gorge, Hualien
Marble cliffs and a turquoise river near Hualien on the east coast. Some trails and roads have been closed since the 2024 earthquake, so check what is open before you go.
How do we compare?
Cheaper than Airalo and Holafly on every Taiwan plan, and hotspot is always included.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Cheaper on every plan5 GB for 30 days from €10,49 | Yes | No | No |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB and unlimitedPick a plan that fits your trip | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs Taiwan SIM card
You can also buy a tourist SIM at the telecom counters in the arrival hall of Taoyuan Airport. You show your passport and a second photo ID.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Airport counter or phone shop |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After buying and registration |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | From around NT$300 for a few days |
| Documents | None needed | Passport and a second ID |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls often included |
Need a Taiwanese phone number? Then a local SIM is a good option. For most trips, the eSIM saves you the airport queue and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in Taiwan: NT dollars, EasyCard and cash
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD, NT$). €1 is around NT$36. Cards work in hotels, department stores and chain restaurants, but night markets, small eateries and many shops only take cash.
- Get an EasyCard at the airport or any convenience store. You use it on the MRT, buses, trains and YouBike, and to pay at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart.
- Bring cash for night markets. The ATMs in 7-Eleven stores accept foreign cards and are open around the clock.
- Tipping is not expected. Restaurants often add a 10% service charge to the bill.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose New Taiwan dollars.
Quick NT$ converter
About
| NT$ 100 | ≈ €2.77 |
|---|---|
| NT$ 500 | ≈ €14 |
| NT$ 1,000 | ≈ €28 |
| NT$ 2,000 | ≈ €56 |
| NT$ 5,000 | ≈ €139 |
Approximate, rounded rate for a rough idea only. Your bank or card uses its own rate.
Weather and best time to visit Taiwan
Northern Taiwan, including Taipei, is subtropical. October to April is the most comfortable time to visit. Summer is hot, humid and typhoon season, and in winter the north is often grey with drizzle.
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Autumn
October and NovemberWarm, drier and often sunny, around 20 to 28 °C in Taipei. The best time for hiking and day trips.
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Winter and spring
December to AprilMild, around 13 to 23 °C in Taipei, with grey days and drizzle in the north. Lunar New Year is festive, but trains and hotels fill up fast.
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Summer
May to SeptemberPlum rains in May and June, then hot and humid with afternoon storms. Typhoons are possible from July to September, and ferries and mountain roads can close during a warning.
Uber vs Taiwan Taxi: which taxi app to use in Taipei
The Taipei MRT is fast, clean and cheap, so you need a taxi less often than you might think. Taxis are yellow and use a meter. In Uber you see the price before you book, and the Taiwan Taxi app books a regular yellow taxi.
Uber
Works in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other cities. You see the price before you book.
Taiwan Taxi
The largest taxi company, also known by its number 55688. Its app books a licensed yellow taxi at the meter price, handy at busy times and in smaller towns.
From Taoyuan Airport
The Airport MRT takes you to Taipei Main Station in around 35 minutes on the express train, and you can pay with an EasyCard. Airport buses and taxis are also available.
Good to know in Taiwan: MRT rules, local SIM cards and Taroko
No eating or drinking on the MRT
Eating, drinking and chewing gum, including water, is not allowed in the paid area of MRT stations and on trains. Fines run from NT$1,500 to NT$7,500.
Local SIM: two IDs at the counter
To buy a Taiwanese SIM card, you show your passport and a second photo ID, such as a driving licence. Our eSIM needs no counter visit: you buy it online and install it at home.
Taroko Gorge after the 2024 earthquake
Some trails and roads in Taroko National Park have been closed since the earthquake of April 2024. Check the park's website for what is open before you travel to Hualien.
Sources: Taipei Metro and Taroko National Park. Rules change, so check before you travel.
Internet in Taipei for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data from the moment you land at Taoyuan Airport. It uses Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and T Star, with 5G where available. Coverage is very good in Taipei, on the MRT and along the high-speed rail, and good in Jiufen, Keelung and at Sun Moon Lake. Deep in Taroko Gorge and high in the mountains the signal can drop, so download offline maps before you go.
Using hotspot in Taiwan
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before you fly and leave the line switched off.
- After landing at Taoyuan Airport, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android) to share data with a laptop or your travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
Taiwan was my first ever country in East Asia. My first time getting to know Taiwanese culture and its amazing food. It felt strange yet very exciting and refreshing to be in a country I knew so little about, and it really amazed me. The infrastructure is great, the people were incredibly friendly and I had the best time trying boba tea for the first time. It's great for photography too! My highlights were Keelung, Hualien and Sun Moon Lake. Enjoy your time in Taiwan, and I hope ArrivalSIM makes your trip just a bit easier.
Peter
Taiwan eSIM FAQ
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Taiwan?
That is the easiest way. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing, so you can find the Airport MRT or book a ride right away.
What happens after my daily data on the unlimited plan?
You get full speed up to 3 GB a day, then the plan continues at 1 Mbps until the next day. That is enough for maps, messaging and email.
Can I make WhatsApp or LINE calls in Taiwan with this eSIM?
Messages always work. Calls over WhatsApp and LINE work, but are not guaranteed: the quality depends on the network and your signal. Keep a normal call as a backup for anything important.
Does the eSIM work in Taroko Gorge and the mountains?
In towns, on the main roads and at the main viewpoints, yes. Deep in the gorge and high in the mountains the signal can drop. Download offline maps before you go.
Does hotspot work with the Taiwan eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in Taiwan?
Yes. When we compared prices on their own websites, every Taiwan plan of ours cost less than the same plan at Airalo or Holafly, including Airalo's shorter plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB and unlimited. Holafly only sells unlimited plans, priced per day.
Which plan fits a week in Taiwan?
Maps, messaging and some social media: the 5 or 10 GB plan. Do you stream, share your hotspot or work on a laptop? Then take 20 GB or unlimited for 7 days. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Taiwan?
Plans from €3,49 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land in Taipei.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.