Solo female travel in Taiwan: late flights, the MRT, hostels and 113

What the UK, German and French advice says

France Diplomatie's security page, updated on 15 September 2026, places the whole of Taiwan under normal vigilance, with no area advised against. It notes that assaults on foreigners, with fists and sometimes knives, and attempts at extortion are recorded from time to time, notably in some bars, clubs and discos or as people leave them, and asks visitors to take basic precautions there.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO), whose advice was updated on 28 August 2026, describes crime rates as extremely low and asks travellers to remain vigilant, follow the local media and follow the instructions of local law enforcement. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), unchanged since 5 October 2026, reports petty crime such as pickpocketing, handbag theft and credit-card fraud, especially in the large cities. All three were checked on 2 November 2026; other governments may say more, so read your own before you book.

Landing at Taoyuan after the last train

The Airport MRT is the easy way into Taipei, and its last trains decide your night. Taoyuan Metro's timetable for A12 Airport Terminal 1 lists the last Express to A1 Taipei Main Station at 22:58 and the last all-stop Commuter at 23:37. For a flight due after about 22:00, allow for immigration and baggage, and book a room you can reach by taxi.

Taoyuan City's tourism site says the airport taxis provide a 24-hour service, with pickup on the west side of the arrivals hall on level 1F (ground floor) at Terminal 1 Gate 12 and Terminal 2 Gate 1 and taxi service centres in both terminals (Terminal 1 on 03-3982832, Terminal 2 on 03-3983599). Taiwan's 3G network was shut down on 30 June 2024, and the Tourism Administration warns that a phone or SIM without 4G voice (VoLTE) cannot call any number, emergency numbers included, so test your phone or rent a service at the airport before you leave the terminal.

Hostels with reception hours suit an earlier landing; for a late one, a hotel with a 24-hour desk near Taipei Main Station saves a search for the door code. Our Taiwan transport guide covers the Airport MRT fares and the trains onwards.

On the Taipei MRT and in taxis

Taipei Metro says an emergency intercom is fixed to a wall or column of every platform: in an emergency, press its call button to speak to the operation staff. Emergency stop buttons are on platforms with half-height doors and at Wenhu Line stations. Press one if a person or object is on the tracks or caught in the platform gap.

For a ride late at night, use a taxi from a rank or one called through your hotel or a taxi app. Our guide to Taipei covers the districts and night markets themselves.

Bars, clubs and night markets

The French note on bars is the one to carry into an evening out: incidents involving foreigners have been recorded in some bars, clubs and discos and on leaving them. Keep your drink in sight, leave with someone you know or in a taxi you have booked, and if a dispute starts over a bill or a seat, walk away and call 110 rather than argue. France says a call to 110 can be put through to someone who speaks English.

At night markets and on busy MRT platforms, the German advice on pickpockets and bag-snatching is the one that applies: carry your bag in front of you and keep your phone zipped away while you eat.

What to wear, and the laws that apply to everyone

For temple visits, pack a light layer and follow any signs at the entrance. In the hot-spring town of Jiaoxi, the township's public bathhouse has separate baths for women and men; our Yilan guide describes it.

Two rules apply to every visitor. The FCDO asks you always to carry ID such as a passport, and says the police will usually accept a printed copy of the photo page. It also asks you to avoid any involvement with illegal drugs, including cannabis, which carry severe prison sentences and, for some offences, the death penalty, including when you are only transiting through the airport.

Female-only dorms in Taipei

If you want a dorm bed without sharing the room with men, book one by name. Star Hostel Taipei Main Station, for example, lists both mixed and female-only Standard dormitories and a Basic Female Dormitory, each with eight beds; the minimum age for its dorms is 18. Look for female-only in the room name when you book.

For more privacy, book a private room; our where-to-stay guide for Taipei compares the districts.

If something happens: the numbers to save

Save these before you land, and make sure your phone supports 4G voice calls (VoLTE).

• 110: police. France Diplomatie says a call to 110 can be connected to an English speaker.
• 119: fire and ambulance.
• 112: the Tourism Administration lists it for an emergency call with poor mobile reception.
• 113: the Ministry of Health and Welfare's protection hotline, free from landlines, payphones and mobiles, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, for domestic violence, child and elder protection, sexual assault and sexual harassment; it offers interpretation in English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai and Japanese, as well as online chat and text-message counselling. The ministry says to call 110 first if you are in immediate danger.
• 1990: the National Immigration Agency lists this as the Foreigners in Taiwan hotline for domestic calls.