Do I need cash in Taiwan, or can I use cards?

Taiwan is more cash-reliant than most visitors expect for a high-tech economy. Cards (Visa and Mastercard) work at hotels, department stores, chain restaurants and the ubiquitous convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart), and contactless is growing. But night markets, small local eateries, family shops and temples are largely cash.

So carry NT dollars. For transit and small purchases, get an EasyCard (a tap card), which works on the metro, buses and in convenience stores, and saves fumbling for coins.

When a card terminal or ATM asks whether to charge in US or NT dollars, always choose NT dollars. US dollars trigger dynamic currency conversion at a rate about 3 to 8% worse than your own bank's. Decline it every time.

For cash, the most reliable ATMs for foreign cards are at convenience stores and post offices; some local bank ATMs reject foreign cards, so a 7-Eleven or post office ATM is a safe bet. Use a debit card to avoid cash-advance fees.

Split it: use cards for hotels and larger purchases, and keep enough NT dollars for the day's night markets, small eateries and temples. An EasyCard covers transit and convenience-store snacks, so you rarely need coins.

For the wider picture, see the Taiwan money guide.

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