Taiwan eSIM
Stay connected across Taiwan. Install before you fly.
- 5G on Taiwan Mobile
- Instant on arrival
- Refund if it doesn’t activate
Choose your plan
All prices GBP7 days
15 days
30 days
Good to know
Calls and texts
Taiwan plans are data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Your phone
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone
Refunds
If your eSIM doesn't activate, we'll replace it free or refund you in full.
Taiwan eSIM plans at a glance
Cheapest
1 GB for 7 days, £2.09
Best value
20 GB for 30 days, £15.12, about £0.76 a gigabyte
Unlimited
From £6.52. Cheapest per day is 30 days at £1.20 a day
Network coverage in Taiwan
Your Travelren eSIM runs on Taiwan Mobile, one of the island's three main networks, with 5G. Taiwan is one of the easiest places in Asia to stay connected: coverage is excellent across Taipei and New Taipei, in Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, along the high-speed rail line down the west coast and on the MRT systems.
Keep reading
Signal holds up well at popular day-trip spots such as Jiufen, Shifen and Tamsui. It thins in the Central Mountain Range, where parts of Taroko Gorge, the trails around Alishan and Yushan and the high road over Hehuanshan can have weak or no signal. The east coast between Hualien and Taitung is covered in the towns and along much of the main highway.
- Networks
- Taiwan Mobile
- Speeds
- 5G
What works in Taiwan
Works well
- Google Maps and the Taipei and Kaohsiung MRT
- LINE, the messaging app most people in Taiwan use, alongside WhatsApp
- Translation apps at night markets and restaurants
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- The Taiwan High Speed Rail app for tickets and timetables
- Streaming and video calls on 5G in the cities
Watch out for
- The APN has to be entered by hand as globaldata
- Mountain areas such as Taroko, Alishan and Hehuanshan have gaps
- Data only: no Taiwanese number for SMS verification codes
Arriving in Taiwan
Most international flights land at Taoyuan International (TPE), where the Airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in under an hour; Taipei's Songshan airport (TSA) handles some regional flights. Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD).
Keep reading
Buy an EasyCard at the airport or any convenience store: it covers the MRT, buses and YouBike bikes, and pays for small purchases at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart. Hotels, department stores and chain restaurants take credit cards, while night markets, street food stalls and many small eateries are cash only. Convenience stores are everywhere and open around the clock, and their ATMs usually accept foreign cards.
Installing your Taiwan eSIM
Install the Taiwan eSIM on WiFi before you fly by scanning the QR code in your order email (iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM; Android: Settings, SIM manager, Add eSIM). Then do the step Taiwan needs and most countries don't: set the APN to globaldata in the eSIM's mobile data network settings. When you land at Taoyuan, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line.
Keep reading
If data doesn't start, check the APN is saved and selected, then restart the phone.
Common questions
Which network does the Travelren eSIM use in Taiwan?
Taiwan Mobile, with 5G where it's available. It's one of Taiwan's three main operators, with excellent coverage in the cities and along the west coast. One setup step is different from most countries: the APN has to be entered by hand as globaldata.
How do I set the APN for my Taiwan eSIM?
On iPhone, go to Settings, Mobile Data, select the Taiwan eSIM, then Mobile Data Network, and type globaldata in the APN field under Mobile Data. On Android, open the eSIM's settings, find Access Point Names, add a new APN and enter globaldata as the APN. Save it, select it, and data should start within a minute.
Does the eSIM work on the high-speed rail?
Yes. Taiwan High Speed Rail runs from Nangang in Taipei to Zuoying in Kaohsiung, and coverage holds for almost the whole trip, with short drops in tunnels. It's enough for messaging, browsing and most video calls on the way.
Will I have signal in Taroko Gorge?
Near the park entrance and along parts of the main gorge road, often yes, but coverage is patchy on side trails and deeper in the mountains. Parts of Taroko have also had closures after earthquakes and landslides, so check trail and road status before you go and download maps in advance.
Show 4 more questions
Is LINE or WhatsApp better in Taiwan?
LINE is the messaging app most people in Taiwan use, including many hotels, shops and tour operators, so it's worth installing before you go. WhatsApp works fine over the eSIM too, and both run well on Taiwan Mobile's network.
How much does Telstra charge to roam in Taiwan?
Taiwan is in Zone 2 of Telstra's International Day Pass: A$10 a day with 2 GB of data a day, checked September 2026. AT&T's International Day Pass is US$12 a day. A Travelren plan is a single payment for the whole trip.
When does my Taiwan plan start?
When your phone first connects to a network in Taiwan. You can install the eSIM days in advance, and the plan's validity only begins on arrival.
Do I need cash in Taiwan?
For night markets and small eateries, yes. Hotels, department stores and chain restaurants take cards, and an EasyCard handles transport and convenience-store purchases, but street food stalls and many family-run places accept cash only. Convenience store ATMs are the easiest place to withdraw New Taiwan dollars.
Asia regional plan
Visiting more than just Taiwan?
One Asia eSIM covers Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, plus 15 other countries.
£30.76
Nearby destinations
Not flying yet?
Tell us when you go and we’ll email you a reminder to set up your Taiwan eSIM three days before you fly. One email. That’s it.