Taiwan Packing List – What to Bring?

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If you’re anything like me, you’ll decide it’s a great idea to start packing for your Taiwan trip the night before. The morning of, I’ll usually scramble to finish packing and jam-pack everything I can think of into my luggage. But of course, I’ll always forget something essential like my phone charger or my micro-SD for my Go Pro. This is never a pleasant experience.

So, to help you with your packing (and to discourage procrastination), I’ve compiled a solid checklist of things you might want to bring on your Taiwan trip.

The Essentials

Shirts – Depending on when you’re going, you should pack long or short-sleeved shirts. If you’re not sure, check out Taiwan weather guide.

Underwear – Bring plenty because its generally really humid and you’ll want to wear fresh underwear everyday. Trust me.

Shorts/Pants – I would recommend wearing pants because of all the mosquitos and bugs in Taiwan. But if you’re coming during or around summer, you will want to wear shorts.

Sneakers – People here love to walk because cities like Taipei are some of the most walk-able cities in the world. Outside of Taiwan, there are plenty of nature attractions that would require sneakers for the journey.

Toiletries – Don’t forget the toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body & face wash, etc.

Phone/Charger – Don’t be like me. Pack your phone and charger when you see this. For a few hundred Taiwan dollars, you can get a data SIM card for your smartphone for the whole trip.

Passport/Ticket – You must not leave this at home. Don’t forget about Visa stuff, if you need one.

Money – Food in Taiwan, accessories, clothes and many other things are much cheaper over here. Not sure how much money to bring? Check this out.

Highly Recommended for Taiwan

Mosquito repellent – These annoying pests are everywhere in Taiwan, especially in the countryside (like Hualien, Yilan and Jiaoxi). Bring this to keep them away!

Sunscreen – Don’t let the cloudy skies fool you. The sunrays can cause some gnarly sunburn during the warmer months.

Allergy medicine – If you get allergies, you should bring allergy medicine. The air quality is not as great in metropolitan areas like Taipei.

Sandals – There are plenty of water activities in Taiwan, which will require sandals. Go for a nice swim in Kenting National Park or splash around in river near Taroko Gorge in Hualien. Also, if you’re stuck in heavy rain, you want to wear sandals.

Swimwear – There are nice beaches in Taiwan everywhere. Or maybe you’ll use them for a Taiwanese hot spring bath.

Backpack – If you plan to walk around a lot, it might be a good idea to have a backpack to carry all your things.

Small Portable Umbrella – In Taiwan, umbrellas are not only used to keep you from getting wet during the rainy season, but also to keep the brutal sun rays from hitting your skin during the “dry” season. And you wonder why the Taiwanese are as pale as a ghost.

If You Have It

Camera – Taiwan is a beautiful country. And if you have a camera, you’ll want to capture some great moments and stunning scenery.

Go Pro – These awesome devices work great in Taiwan mainly because the scenery is so nice. Although the Go Pro isn’t big here, there has been a movement lately. Check out #goprotaiwan on Instagram!

Laptop – One of the best things about Taiwan (especially Taipei) is the variety of Cafes. Cafes are big and they all have unique themes that set them apart. I’d recommend finding some cafes and just web surfing or doing some work on your laptop.

Taiwan Packing Pro Tips

1. Leave space in your luggage to bring back goodies. Trust me, everything in Taiwan is cheap and you’ll want to bring back a lot of things. If you know you’ll bring a lot of things back, bring an empty luggage. If you’re not sure, you can always purchase another bag in Taiwan.
2. Taiwan is known for cheap OTC medicine and the Watson’s pharmacy is almost as common as a 711. If you require some OTC drugs, it might be a better idea to purchase some here than to pack a bunch for a long trip.
3. Get a lock for your luggage. The airport security is not as sketchy in Taiwan as say Thailand, but just in case. If not, you can use a paperclip just to make sure your luggage doesn’t unzip at the very least.
4. If you don’t have a lock, never leave a laptop in your luggage. I’ve heard so many stories of people leaving their laptops in their luggage and it disappearing.