Not sure if I should carry coins for public transport in Taiwan or if card payments are common. Advice?
I commuted daily in Taichung using a top-up EasyCard - paid for buses, MRT, even a bike rental. In Taipei, it’s a breeze. But when I traveled south to Taitung and took a regional bus to Dulan, the driver didn’t accept cards at all, so cash saved me. If you want total convenience, use the EasyCard, but always have backup coins for out-of-coverage routes or tech fails. Taiwan's great, but not 100% cashless for transport yet.
I rode buses and MRT in Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hualien - all accepted the EasyCard. You can even pay for snacks at FamilyMart and train tickets with it. I only needed cash when I rode a local bus to Taroko Gorge where the driver asked for exact coins. Definitely get a travel card, but also carry around NT$100-200 in coins just to be safe when heading to national parks or tiny towns.
Taiwan’s transit system is super digital-friendly. I used an EasyCard from day one in Taipei, and it covered everything from MRT rides to local buses in Tamsui. No need to carry change daily. However, when I took buses in more rural spots like Chiayi, a couple of drivers asked for cash since their scanners weren’t working. As a rule: get an EasyCard for cities, but keep some TWD cash for remote areas where tech can glitch or be missing.
If you’re sticking to cities like Taipei, Taichung, or Kaohsiung, you won’t need much cash for transport. Just grab an EasyCard or iPASS card from any metro station or 7-Eleven. Load it with TWD, and you’re good for MRT, buses, and even some ferries. I only used coins when my card ran out of balance and I couldn’t find a top-up machine. Smaller towns may not have these systems, so carry about TWD 200-300 in coins and small bills, just in case.