Taiwan : Safety by CityTaiwan’s impressive capital, Taipei, is a city brimming with vibrant culture, entertainment, cuisine (with numerous restaurants offering delicious food that is so cheap that the Japanese often take short trips just to taste it), contemporary clubs and bars and a unique energetic feel to it.
Taipei is located in the northern part of the island in a basin between the Yangming Mountains and the Central Mountains.
Counting as many as 2.6 million inhabitants, it is the fourth largest administrative area of the country of Taiwan.
Being Taiwan’s financial, cultural and governmental centre, it’s no wonder that tourists rush to see its features every year without fail.
Apart from the lovers of vibrant nightlife, and of course, those wishing to learn more about the amazing culture of Taiwan, Taipei is a paradise for the gourmands.
Just walk into any of Taipei’s numerous restaurants with gorgeous food, and you’ll see what it’s like munching on evening snacks in a chaotic environment of this wonderful city.
Warnings & Dangers in Taipei
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Taipei is generally safe to travel to, but it's not without its dangers. The only concern is a petty crime on the streets, but if you apply the basic precaution measures, your trip should go smoothly.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Though public transport is mostly safe and reliable, it is filled with pickpockets and petty thieves. Always negotiate everything in advance and never pay upfront. Transportation stations are also risky, as they are known to attract criminals. Bear in mind that Taipei is filled with unlicensed taxi vehicles that don't use meters and might try to rip you off
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
There is a heightened risk of pickpockets in Taipei since it has huge numbers of visitors a year. Don‘t leave anything valuable in your back pockets and be especially vigilant in crowded places.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
As for natural disasters, Taipei has a high risk of earthquakes. There are also risks of typhoons, especially between July to November and tourists are recommended to refrain from visiting the mountains during these periods.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Taipei, on the whole, is extremely safe. Crime against foreigners is rare, and violent crime, and incidents such as mugging and rape, against foreigners are extremely rare.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Even though in Taipei's recent history there haven't been any terrorist attacks, one can never be too cautious, and things such as terrorist attacks can never be ruled out, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
The most common scams are connected with the ATMs. There is the popular scam of someone calling you, impersonating a bank employee or a hotel staff and asking you to confirm your credit card information. There is also the risk of ATM fraud so try and use the machines that are inside.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Taipei is safe for solo women travelers. Just use your common sense and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid wearing purses and do not walk alone or ride in taxis at night.
So... How Safe Is Taipei Really?
Taipei is relatively safe to visit.
Though the rates of violent crime are low by world standards, you are recommended to remain vigilant at all times.
Petty crime rates are low as well, but pickpocketing and bag-snatching do occur, especially in locations frequented by tourists.
The shady, criminal side of Taipei usually happens around barbershops and nightclubs which act as fronts for prostitution.
However, it is easy to differentiate the dodgy ones from real, legitimate businesses.
Real barber shops openly advertise their business and you can see through their windows barbers cutting hair, and if you can’t – that’s the dodgy one.
Apart from this, you should keep in mind that there have been reports of people being assaulted by taxi drivers in Taipei: this happened a couple of time, and though it received unreasonably more media coverage than it should’ve since it only happened a couple of times, it still pays to remain vigilant.
Women, for example, should be cautious when taking taxis alone late at night and it is even recommended for them to only tell taxi drivers the street name and section, instead of their exact address.
How Does Taipei Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Taipei | 61 |
| Belize City (Belize) | 37 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
Useful Information
Visas
Many countries in Europe, U.S.A, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa to enter Taiwan, for any stays shorter than 90 days. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
The New Taiwan dollar is the official currency in Taipei. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, except in rural areas, while credit cards are accepted at most establishments.
Weather
The climate in Taipei can be described as semi-tropical characterized by hot and humid weather. The most comfortable season to visit Taipei in the fall when the rainfall is at its lowest and the temperatures average a pleasant mid 20°C.
Airports
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is an international airport in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. It is located about 40 km west of Taipei in Dayuan District. The airport is Taiwan's largest and busiest.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Taipei, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Taipei Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 19 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 24 | 21 |
| Low °C | 13 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 15 |
| High °F | 66 | 68 | 72 | 79 | 84 | 90 | 93 | 91 | 88 | 81 | 75 | 70 |
| Low °F | 55 | 57 | 59 | 66 | 72 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 75 | 72 | 64 | 59 |
Taiwan - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Taipei | 61 |
Safe city
An incredibly safe city. I felt much safer walking down the streets of Taipei at night and alone than I did walking in New York City during the day and in a group. Never saw any hint of crime, not even littering, and security cameras were everywhere. Admittedly the traffic situation is a bit chaotic, but really that just requires common sense.
Jewel in the Far East
Modern cosmopolitan city with the feeling of small island. Friendly people. Great public transportation system including a fast train from the north to the south of the island. A jewel in the Far East. Have been there three years in a row and love it.
A bit wrong in this site
61? More like 86 as numbeo says the safety index is 86.
No crime, bad traffic
Taiwan is incredibly safe in terms of crime. People leave their phones and computers on tables in coffee shops and go to the bathroom for several minutes. 99% of the time, their stuff will be untouched. This article overblows the risk of pickpocketing, fake taxis and scams. It’s extremely rare.
The only risk in Taiwan is transportation. Drivers don’t follow rules, run red lights and ignore zebra crossings. Keep your eyes on the move when crossing the street.
61???
I find “public transport is filled with pickpockets and thieves” unbelievable…
Not accurate at all
I liked this website, until I saw that the safety index for Taipei is at the same level as Guayaquil in Ecuador. Sorry, but this is ridiculous and a lot of information in this article is completely wrong. There is not one single un-metered taxi or unlicensed taxi in Taipei. I live in Taipei since 5 years and everyone who lives here knows that the riskiest thing about Taiwan is the reckless driving. The risk of being a victim of violent crime or even pickpocketing is close to zero. In fact, people reserve their tables in restaurants by putting their brand new iPhones on the table while taking a bathroom break.
I feel like Taipei’s safety has come down in recent years but I have certainly been to much worse areas that seemed to get higher ratings. I am not sure if this rating is a comparison one or not. If so, then I can understand it comparing it to other neighboring places.
Article needs to be updated.
This is totally wrong. Taipei and Taiwan are both very safe places. Sure there are a few pickpockets and also scammers but overall it’s a very safe place.
Score should be much HIGHER
I grew up in Taiwan and moved to Berkeley, CA for college. I was shocked seeing Taipei having a lower rating than Berkeley/Oakland. I feel safe in Taipei as a female, even if I’m out at 4am by myself, but I never feel safe in the States by myself. In the States I carry a pepper spray everywhere I go and I got so many notifications of robberies, assaults, etc. every week. Taipei deserves a better score.