After planning a trip to Taiwan, deciding what attractions to see, finding a flight, and picking a hotel or Airbnb in Taiwan, you may want to know about tipping in Taiwan. Understanding what a local would do will helps prevent embarrassing mistakes and uncomfortable situations. Being aware of the tipping culture in Taiwan should be on every traveler’s to-do list.

Is It Customary To Tip in Taiwan?

Do you tip in Taiwan? In this Taiwanese tipping guide, we will cover whether you tip at restaurants, hotels, in a taxi, at a spa, on tour, or at the hairdresser or barber. In general, though, it’s not customary to tip anyone except hotel bellhops and valet drivers in Taiwan.

Restaurants in Taiwan

Taiwan has many delicious restaurants that represent a wide array of cuisines and offer relatively low prices. The food in Taiwan is delicious and inexpensive, so you might find yourself eating out at restaurants at least once. Try out the delightful must-eat street food in one of Taiwan’s night markets, which 70% of tourists visit! Before you pay your restaurant bill, it is best to know whether or not a tip is already in the price.

Do You Tip At Restaurants In Taiwan?

No, you don’t need to tip waiters or waitresses at restaurants in Taiwan. As a 10 percent service charge is already included in the cost of your food, a tip is unnecessary. Do what the locals do, and don’t leave your waiter a tip.

If you want to leave a tip, it’ll be very unexpected in non-touristic restaurants, although it happens more frequently at restaurants catering to Westerners.

Bars, Lounges, and Nightclubs in Taiwan

If you’re searching for a good bar, lounge, or nightclub, you’ll want to know what the crowd is like and how the prices are. After you’ve sat down for a drink, you’ll want to know about tipping at bars. Do you need to tip your bartender?

Do You Tip At Bars, Lounges, or Nightclubs In Taiwan?

It is not necessary to tip bartenders in Taiwan at a bar, lounge, or nightclub since a service fee is already in the price of every drink. Tipping bartenders isn’t part of the local culture, so you don’t need to do it! If you want to tip to show your gratitude for good service, you can leave a small tip, but it will be unexpected.

Hotels in Taiwan

If you are staying in Taiwan, there are many hotels to choose from for every budget. Before arriving at your hotel, you should know if it is customary to tip the staff members. Do you tip the bellhop? How about the concierge or housekeeping?

Do You Tip At Hotels In Taiwan

Tipping isn’t required at hotels in Taiwan except for the bellman, also known as a bellhop or hotel porter, at high-end international hotels. If you’re not staying at a high-end hotel, then there’s no tipping required.

How Much Should You Tip At Hotels In Taiwan

If you’re staying at a high-end hotel, tip the bellhop/luggage porter the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) equivalent of 1 US dollar per bag in bills or coins. You don’t need to tip if you’re not staying at a high-end hotel.

Tour Guides in Taiwan

Are you planning to take a day trip tour while you are in Taiwan? Or are you in Taiwan as part of a tour group? In either case, you will want to know whether you’re supposed to leave your tour guide a tip.

Do You Tip Tour Guides In Taiwan?

You do not need to tip your guide. Tipping is not part of the local culture.

Tour guides receive a salary based on the expectation of no tips. So while a few tipping websites might say that you should tip your tour guide, that’s not true. You don’t need to tip, period.

Of course, there are tour guides who will be looking for tips from Western tourists. If that’s the case, your tour guide is trying to fool you into paying more than what is customary in Taiwan. You don’t have to be one of the people who fall for this. Do as the locals do, and don’t tip your tour guide. Use the money saved on a gratuity at one of the night markets in Taipei City , or buy some small gifts for your family.

Taxis in Taiwan

Taxis are a relatively inexpensive way to get around in Taiwan. They’re also great if you don’t want to navigate public transport in Taipei, if your airport flight times mean you need to take a taxi, or if you have more luggage than you can handle yourself on public transport. If you’re taking a taxi in Taiwan, you’ll want to know if you’re supposed to tip your taxi driver or not.

Do You Tip Taxi Drivers In Taiwan

It is not customary to tip taxi drivers in Taiwan. Occasionally, you might hand the taxi driver the fare at the end of the trip and tell him to keep the change as a small tip, but it would be completely unexpected.

If you need a taxi that takes credit cards, make sure to ask the taxi driver about this before you get in the taxi! If you pre-book a taxi through your hotel, ask your hotel concierge to reserve a taxi with a credit card reader. You don’t want to get in a taxi and not be able to pay for your ride at the end of it if it turns out that there’s no credit card reader!

Uber in Taiwan

If you don’t want to rent a car or take a taxi, you’ll probably want to use Uber if public transport can’t get you there. Do you need to tip your Uber driver in Taiwan?

Is There Uber In Taiwan?

Yes, there is Uber in Taiwan. If you haven’t used Uber before, you can download Uber’s app from the Apple Appstore or the Android Play Store.

Do You Need to Tip Your Uber Driver in Taiwan?

No, you don’t need to tip your Uber driver in Taiwan. Tips aren’t required for taxis, and they’re not necessary for Uber, either. Sit back and enjoy your Uber ride.

Hairdressers and Barbers

If you are thinking about having your hair cut or styled in Taiwan, it is essential to know if you need to tip your hairdresser or barber.

Do You Tip Your Hairdresser In Taiwan?

No, you don’t have to tip your hairdresser in Taiwan. It’s just not part of the culture. If you do leave a tip, your hairdresser will be very surprised.

Do You Tip Your Barber In Taiwan?

No, you don’t have to tip your barber in Taiwan.

Spas in Taiwan

A trip to a spa in Taiwan can be a great way to work out any stress you might have, relieve stress, and relax. If you’re going to a spa in Taiwan, you’ll want to know whether you’re supposed to leave your spa therapist a tip or not.

Do You Tip At Spas In Taiwan?

No, you don’t have to tip at spas in Taiwan. It’s just not a thing to tip your spa therapist for a treatment or massage. Feel free to use the money for another spa treatment instead.

Do You Tip Valet Parking?

If you’re using valet parking, it’s customary to tip your valet driver for his services. Valet parking is one of the rare situations where locals tip in Taiwan, so you should too.

How Much Do You Tip a Valet Driver In Taiwan?

Tip your valet driver 100 NT$ (New Taiwan Dollars, also abbreviated as TWD).

Do You Tip Delivery Drivers In Taiwan? 

No, you don’t need to tip delivery drivers in Taiwan as it’s not customary. If you try to leave a tip, expect the delivery driver to be confused and tell you that you have already paid the bill in full.

Visiting Taiwan: Frequently Asked Questions

People often have specific questions about visiting Taiwan. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions people ask.

Is Taiwan visa-free?

Yes, Taiwan offers visa-free entry for certain passport holders under the following conditions: tourism, visiting friends or family, social visits, doing business, attending exhibitions, and international exchanges.

You must have a valid passport, not stay indefinitely in Taiwan, and have no criminal record in Taiwan.

Citizens of the following countries can visit for 90 days visa-free: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, and the Vatican City State.

Passport holders of some other nations can enter visa-free for periods between 14 and 30 days.

How long can I stay in Taiwan with a US passport?

Once the temporary covid-19 health measures are lifted, United States passport holders can stay in Taiwan for up to 90 days visa-free.

Does Grab work in Taipei?

No, Grab taxi and Grab food delivery are not offered in Taipei or the rest of Taiwan. Food Panda is the most popular food delivery app in Taiwan, while Foodomo, Yowoo, and Uber Eats are other popular options. Uber is available in Taipei for app-based ride-hailing.

Is there Uber in Kaohsiung?

Yes, Uber is available in Kaosiung.

How big is Taipei City?

Taipei City is the capital city of Taiwan. It is home to 2.7 million people and covers an area of 271 square kilometers.

Do Taiwan taxis take credit cards?

While there are taxis in Taiwan that take credit cards, not all do. A taxi that takes credit cards usually has a sticker on the window. Make sure to ask your taxi driver if he takes credit cards before getting into the taxi to avoid a trip to an ATM at the end of your ride.

How to pay bus fare in Taiwan

You can pay your bus fare in Taiwan using the exact amount of cash/coins or a smart card. When you pay using a smart card, you will receive a discount on any bus transfers made within one hour of getting off the first bus.

Is Taiwan a good tourist destination?

Yes, Taiwan is a great destination for the following reasons: the population is friendly, the food is delicious, it’s relatively inexpensive, the night markets are unforgettable, it’s easy to get around, there’s amazing scenery and sights, there are fantastic outdoor activities, and there aren’t many tourists.

Which month is the best month to visit Taiwan?

Taiwan is a year-round tourist destination, so deciding on which month to go depends on what you plan to see and do. The best time for enjoying Taiwan’s beaches is September, October, and November while nature activities are best in the spring.

When is typhoon season in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s typhoon season lasts from June until October, with typhoons occurring most frequently from July through September. Rarely the typhoon season can start in May or end in November.

What is NT currency in Taiwan?

The NT currency in Taiwan stands for the New Taiwan dollar, which is the official currency. You will see prices listed as either NT$ or TWD (Taiwan Dollar); they’re the same thing.

Where to buy Taiwan high-speed rail tickets?

Tickets for Taiwan’s high-speed rail can be purchased online, at a ticket counter, at a ticket vending machine, and using the multi-media machine in most convenience stores. If you’re buying your ticket at a convenience store, remember to take the order sheet from the multi-media machine to the counter within 10 minutes to have your ticket printed.

What is MRT in Taiwan?

The Taipei MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the metro system that serves Taipei and New Taipei. There are 131 MRT stations, six metro lines, and it is used 695.5 million times per year!