Taiwan is a beautiful country with a vibrant culture, intricate temples, lively night markets, top-tier food, friendly people, beautiful landscapes, and much more.
No place in the world is 100% safe. Still, I can say from personal experience living in Taiwan for 2+ years that Taiwan is a very safe place for everyone to visit, whether you’re a solo traveler, solo female traveler, LGBTQ+, traveling with your family, or whatever background you come from.
In this blog post, I speak mainly from a perspective of personal experience living here in Taiwan for two years. I have also included personal anecdotes from my local Taiwanese friends that have been living here their entire lives.
The question of “Is Taiwan Safe?” will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. Please be sure to always do your own research and practice common sense, and you will have a safe trip to Taiwan.
Please let us know if you see any outdated information in this guide, and we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information and always appreciate input from our readers. Otherwise, thanks for reading, and stay safe!
My Opinion on Safety in Taiwan
I will say without any hesitation that Taiwan is an extremely safe place for foreigners to live and visit. In my two years living here, I have never seen or experienced any sort of crime. I’ve never been robbed, pickpocketed, or assaulted, and I’ve never been scammed by anyone at night markets, restaurants, taxis, bars, or anywhere because I’m a foreigner. I can walk down the street in the daytime and nighttime without thinking of looking over my shoulder. Taiwanese people are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet in the world, and here are some instances that can support that:
- I’ve unknowingly dropped cash from my pocket in busy Ximending, and someone was so kind to tap me on the shoulder and give it back to me. I’ve forgotten to zip up my backpack a few times, and I’ve been tapped on the shoulder to be reminded of it.
- I left my phone on restaurant tables to go to the bathroom several times and came back to see that my phone was still there. (This is probably not the best thing to do, but my gut feeling told me that it was safe to do so.)
I think my biggest safety concerns have been earthquakes, typhoons, and traffic. I have experienced several earthquakes during my time here in Taiwan and have felt my apartment building sway back and forth a few times. Typhoons frequent Taiwan, but I’ve never experienced a full-blown storm during my time here. When it comes to traffic in Taiwan, some drivers can be a little careless when it comes to pedestrians. Pedestrians yield to traffic and not the other way around.
Crime in Taiwan
The crime rate in Taiwan is very low, and you will most likely never experience it if you visit. You should, however, be vigilant and cautious wherever you are, especially in crowded places. It’s also important to listen to your intuition. If your gut feeling tells you that walking down a particular walkway doesn’t feel right, then go a different way.
Scams, Pickpocketing, and petty theft crimes are very low in Taiwan, but that isn’t to say that it doesn’t happen. It’s always a good idea to keep your belongings close, especially in crowded tourist areas like night markets or famous temples.
Anecdotes on Safety from Local Taiwanese and Expats
I’ve asked my friends both Taiwanese and foreigners, if they have experienced any crime or have ever felt unsafe in Taiwan, and they’ve all said no.
My friend Richard, originally from The Gambia, has lived in Taiwan for almost seven years and told me that there was never a time when he felt unsafe in Taiwan. His only safety concern has been drivers getting so close to him as he’s crossing the street.
Apparently, there’s this unspoken rule that cars have the right of way over pedestrians, although the law states otherwise. I often see other pedestrians here yield to traffic and not vice versa.
My other friend, Jackie, told me a story about his friend who had taken sleeping-inducing medicine before his trip to work. His friend took the Taipei MRT and had fallen asleep with his personal belongings exposed. He missed his stop and ended up at the end of the train route to find his belongings still there. Maybe he got lucky, or perhaps Taiwan is a very safe place.
Some of my local Taiwanese friends, both men and women, also agree that Taiwan is a very safe place and rarely worry about their safety. Many ex-pats and people who have traveled to Taiwan will probably tell you the same thing.
However, wherever you are in the world, it is important to always be cautious of your surroundings, especially in crowded places.
If you want to hear more about safety in Taiwan, you can find many YouTubers talking about Taiwan being a very safe place.
Natural Disasters: Earthquakes and Typhoons in Taiwan
Because Taiwan is located in a seismic zone and part of the East Asia Monsoon System, earthquakes and typhoons occur frequently.
Typhoons in Taiwan typically occur during the summer months between June-October. If you travel between those months, be sure to check the weather forecast and check in on local news of any potential typhoons. On the other hand, earthquakes are unpredictable and can happen at any moment.
Since it happens so often in Taiwan, it’s important to know what to do in the event of any of these situations.
What To Do If There’s a Typhoon
Typhoons are predictable and can be planned for ahead of time. Be sure to regularly check weather forecasts and pay attention to local news so you can act accordingly. The safest thing to do that I recommend is to stay indoors, away from windows and doors. Your hotel or hostel is probably the safest place.
If you happen to be outside and caught in the middle of a typhoon, run into a 7-11 or any convenience store. There’s one on almost every block.
What To Do If There’s an Earthquake
It’s best to stay inside a find a safe place to take cover, typically under a sturdy table or desk. Be aware of falling objects and protect your head and neck.
If traveling to Taiwan or perhaps anywhere in the world, it’s essential to establish emergency contacts with friends and family back home just in case something happens. Better safe than sorry.
Want to read more about disaster preparedness for Taiwan?
Check out this comprehensive disaster preparedness guide that was created by the non-profit organization, Community Services Center Taiwan.
Should I be Worried About China-Taiwan Conflict?
This question is a tough one to answer. You must also do your own research regarding the China-Taiwan relationship.
There has been a rise in tension between Taiwan and China, especially in recent years, due to Taiwan’s non-acceptance of China’s reunification and also their push to be internationally recognized as an independent country. As a result, Chinese aircraft incursions have been sent into Taiwan’s Air Defense Zone to add pressure on Taiwan.
If you plan to visit, the chance of you running into any problems regarding this is very low; however, it is a good idea to be aware of the ongoing China-Taiwan conflict. Again, do your research! It’s also a good idea not to talk about politics regarding China and Taiwan.
Is the Food Safe to Eat?
The food you find at night markets, restaurants, and street vendors in Taiwan is generally safe to eat. When deciding on a place to eat, it’s a great idea to follow the crowds. Chances are these people are returning customers who’ve had no problem with the food there. You should also pay close attention to the cleanliness of their food stations. If things look pretty clean, eating there is probably safe. Personally, I have not had any problems with food in Taiwan (except the time I thought crushed peanuts were crushed garlic – I’m allergic to peanuts!).
I have food allergies, what should I do?
Food allergies are uncommon here in Taiwan, so allergy-sensitive food culture isn’t really a thing. There were many times when I’ve told people of my peanut allergy, yet they still used the same utensils that have touched peanuts. Cross-contamination is hard to avoid here; however, you can still manage to get by.
As someone who’s had a severe peanut allergy my whole life, I’ve learned what to eat, not to eat, and how to spot and avoid it. If you’re someone with food allergies such as peanuts, seafood, gluten, etc., then you probably know what it’s like and have your own set of practices to avoid an allergic reaction.
Many people here know some basic English, so you should be able to tell them of your allergies, but if you’re in a situation where someone can’t speak English, here are some useful phrases that you can copy and paste into the notes of your phone for future use.
- I’m allergic to nuts. 我对坚果过敏 (
Wǒ duì jiānguǒ guòmǐn) - I’m allergic to (name of food). 我对 _______ 过敏. (
Wǒ duì _______ guòmǐn) - I’m allergic to soy sauce. 我對醬油過敏 (Wǒ duì jiàngyóu guòmǐn)
- I’m allergic to shellfish. 我对贝类过敏 (Wǒ duì bèi lèi guòmǐn)
- I don’t want soy sauce. 不要加醬油 ( Bùyào jiàngyóu)
- I don’t want sauce (any sauce). 不要醬 (Bùyào jiàng)
- I’m allergic to wheat. 我對小麥過敏 (Wǒ duì xiǎomài guòmǐn)
Are Taxis Safe?
Taking a taxi in Taiwan is relatively safe, and most drivers are honest about the fare. I always make sure that the driver is running that meter instead of having them charge me a fixed price.
Many taxi drivers in Taiwan don’t speak much English so if you’re not very good at Chinese, be sure to have the address in hand ready to show the driver. Oh, and make sure the address is in Chinese and not English. Google Maps usually have both Chinese and English translations available.
Final Thoughts – Is Taiwan Safe?
For the most part, yes!
If you ask local Taiwanese or ex-pats that have lived in Taiwan, I promise you the majority of them, if not all, will say yes, Taiwan is a safe place. Crimes against tourists and foreigners in Taiwan are very rare. The biggest of your concerns may be traffic, earthquakes, and typhoons.
Again, in any part of the world, you may be it is important to practice reasonable caution. Look both ways before you cross the street. Keep your belongings safe and close in crowded places. Don’t walk down dark alleys (however, in Taiwan, you might find some hole-in-the-wall places to eat down many alleys).
If you’ve traveled to Taiwan, please leave a comment below and let us know whether you think Taiwan is a safe place to visit. We would love to hear from you all!
