Apps for Taiwan Travel (2025)
Traveling to Taiwan is a treat; imagine bustling night markets, high-speed trains, world-class street food, and lush mountain trails, all on one island. But to make the most of your adventure, you’ll want your smartphone loaded with the right tools. Whether you’re navigating Taipei’s MRT, ordering breakfast in a night market, or cycling along the east coast, having the right apps can turn a good trip into a great one.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up the most useful apps for Taiwan travel, covering everything from transport and translation to food delivery and local biking. These apps will help you save time, avoid confusion, and experience Taiwan like a local even if it’s your first time visiting.
Most Useful Apps for Taiwan Travel
Planning a trip to Taiwan? Your smartphone can be your best travel companion if you’ve got the right apps installed. Whether you’re navigating Taipei’s MRT system, ordering bubble tea, or checking out where to release sky lanterns in Pingxi, here are the must-have apps that will make your Taiwan adventure smoother, smarter, and a lot more fun.
LINE App (Essentials)
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play
In Taiwan, LINE isn’t just a messaging app, it’s a way of life. From chatting with friends to receiving MRT updates, ordering food, or following local brands, LINE is the primary communication tool used by locals, businesses, and even government services.
- Stay in touch with locals, hosts, or tour guides
- Access exclusive restaurant or event updates via LINE official accounts
Use LINE’s free stickers and translation chatbots (add the translator as a friend) to help communicate with locals even if you don’t speak Mandarin. Some hotels or B&Bs may only allow communication in Mandarin. You can use the translation chatbot to help you translate within this app.
Quick Setup Guide: How to Use LINE in Taiwan
Step 1: Download LINE
Available for iOS and Android
Search for “LINE” in your app store or visit line.me/en/
Step 2: Create an Account
Register using your phone number (international numbers work)
You’ll receive a verification code via SMS
Set a username and profile photo (optional)
Step 3: Add Friends & Contacts
You can add friends by:
Phone number
QR code
LINE ID search
“Shake It” (great for nearby travelers or new acquaintances)
Google Translate (Essentials)
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play
Google Translate: Your Pocket-Sized Language Lifesaver
Traveling around Taiwan is much easier with Google Translate at your fingertips—especially if you don’t read or speak Mandarin. While many younger locals speak basic English, signs, menus, and announcements are often in Chinese. That’s where this app becomes essential.
- Camera Translation: Instantly translate menus, street signs, or packaging by pointing your camera at the text.
- Offline Mode: Download Traditional Chinese ahead of time so you can translate even without internet access.
- Conversation Mode: Tap the mic, speak in English, and it translates to Mandarin (and vice versa) in real time.
- Handwriting Tool: Sketch out Chinese characters if you’re trying to understand handwritten text.
Menus at night markets or traditional shops are often in Chinese only. Use the camera scan feature to get instant, surprisingly accurate translations without having to type a single character.
Google Map App (Essentials)
The Ultimate Navigation Tool for Taiwan Travelers
Whether you’re wandering through Taipei’s back alleys, trying to find a hidden tea shop in Jiufen, or figuring out which bus to take to Taroko Gorge, Google Maps is a must-have for navigating Taiwan with confidence.
- Accurate MRT & Bus Directions: Get real-time public transport routes with platform numbers and fare estimates.
- Walking Guidance: Navigate night markets, small towns, or trailheads with reliable GPS and pedestrian routes.
- Local Business Info: Find hours, menus, reviews, and photos of restaurants, cafés, and shops—even in small towns.
- Multilingual Listings: Many entries include English, Traditional Chinese, and even Japanese or Korean.
- Use Offline Maps: Download regions (like Taipei, Hualien, or Tainan) in advance so you can navigate without internet.
- Bus Tracking: Works in most cities and even smaller towns—shows live bus arrival times and transfer options.
Combine Google Maps with Google Translate’s camera function to instantly read street signs, menus, and directions.
Taipei Metro App
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play
Taipei Metro App: Navigate Taipei’s MRT Like a Local
The Taipei Metro App is a must-have for anyone using the city’s world-class MRT system. Clean, efficient, and easy to use, Taipei’s metro is one of the best in Asia—and this official app helps you use it like a pro.
- Real-Time Train Arrivals: Know exactly when the next train is coming.
- Route Planner: Quickly find the fastest way from point A to point B, including transfer stations and estimated travel time.
- Fare Calculator: Check how much your trip will cost based on your entry and exit stations.
- Station Info: Get details about station exits, facilities (e.g. elevators, toilets), and nearby attractions or connections.
- Service Updates: Stay informed about line closures, delays, and maintenance work.
- Available in English and Japanese too
- Covers the entire Taipei and New Taipei MRT system, including the Taoyuan Airport MRT
- Includes maps of popular tourist sites near stations like Taipei 101, Beitou Hot Springs, and Ximending
Bus+ App
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play
If you plan on taking the bus when traveling in Taiwan, which you should do because it’s affordable and can get you to places that the MRT can’t, then Bus+ is the app you need. Whether you’re heading to a mountain village, a night market, or a beach town, Bus+ helps you track real-time bus arrivals, find nearby stops, and avoid long waits.
- Real-Time Bus Tracking: See exactly when your bus is arriving—updated to the minute.
- Route Planner: Enter your starting point and destination to find the fastest bus route.
- Nearby Stops: Use GPS to find the closest bus stops wherever you are.
- Favorite Routes: Bookmark frequent routes for quick access.
- Service Alerts: Get notifications for delays, detours, or route changes.
- Works in all major cities, including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung
- Supports both Traditional Chinese and English
- Helps you navigate to places not accessible by MRT, like mountain trails, scenic viewpoints, and smaller towns
Use Bus+ to make sure your bus hasn’t already passed and to see alternate routes in case of delays.
Maps.me App
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play
Maps.me: Offline Navigation for Taiwan’s Hidden Gems
If you’re heading beyond the city lights—think Alishan, Taroko Gorge, or rural Taitung—you’ll want Maps.me on your phone. This offline map app is a traveler’s best friend when mobile data is patchy or you’re deep in the mountains.
- Full Offline Maps: Download entire regions in advance and use them with no internet connection.
- Hiking & Nature Trails: Includes trails and footpaths not always listed on Google Maps—perfect for hikers.
- Bookmarking: Save attractions, restaurants, homestays, or bus stops for easy access later.
- Turn-by-Turn Navigation: Works for driving, cycling, and walking—even offline.
- Road trips along Taiwan’s east coast and hiking in Yangmingshan, Alishan, or Taroko
YouBike 2.0 App
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play
To register as a YouBike member, you need a Taiwanese mobile phone number and ID or residence permit number. Foreign tourists can rent a youbike(single rental) and pay with international credit cards.
- You can rent a bike with a credit card without signing up as a YouBike member.
- Use a credit card to authorize a single rental. Each authorization is for 120 hours. Re-authorization is required for any hours exceeding 120 hours.
- A single rental fee must be withheld: NT$3,000 for YouBike 2.0/2.0E.
- If the vehicle is rented and returned normally, the system will automatically cancel the authorization after the authorization expires and return the authorized amount. The return time is based on the working days of each credit card bank.
Taipei is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Asia, and the YouBike App is your go-to tool for discovering the island’s best cycling routes. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely ride along the Tamsui River, commuting to the next MRT station, or exploring hidden gems around the city, YouBike is a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around.
- Locate Nearby Stations: Find the nearest YouBike stations and check availability in real-time.
- Bike Rental: Rent a bike with ease using your EasyCard or via the app—perfect for tourists.
- Route Planner: Discover popular cycling routes and scenic paths in Taipei and other cities.
- Check Availability: Know if bikes are available at your chosen station or where to return your bike.
- Convenience: You don’t need to return the bike to the same station—pick it up at one location, drop it off at another.
- Affordable: YouBike is an economical choice for short-distance travel—rent bikes for as little as NT$10 per 30 minutes.
Best Cities for YouBike
- Taipei: With extensive bike lanes and paths along the river, Taipei is a cyclist’s paradise.
- Kaohsiung: Known for its waterfront and coastal routes, Kaohsiung is also great for cycling.
- Taichung: Explore parks, trails, and urban spaces using the YouBike system.
TaiwanTaxi App: Uber / FindTaxi
Uber
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play
FindTaxi
Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play