How To Take Full Advantage Of The Convenience Stores during Your Visit In Taiwan

When you’re visiting Taiwan for the first time, you’ll quickly notice that convenience stores are on almost every corner.

These stores are an essential part of daily life for Taiwanese locals. And as a visitor, you can also find a surprising number of services that will come in handy during your trip.

Hi, I’m Grace. I was born and raised in Taipei, and although I now live overseas, I come back often to visit family. I write about ways for visitors to enjoy Taiwan from a local-meets-tourist perspective.

In this post, I’ll show you how to fully take advantage of Taiwan’s convenience stores and make your travel experience more enjoyable.

Let’s dive in!

11 Ways To Utilize The Convenience Stores During Your Visit In Taiwan

Get a Glimpse of What Locals Love

Every time I am back in Taiwan, I enjoy going to the convenience stores and browsing what’s on the shelves. I love to check out what’s new, what’s trending, and what everyone is buying.

Shelf space is limited in each compact store, so the product selection is carefully curated. Every item earns its spot, which means you’re seeing what’s popular and widely loved in Taiwan.

It’s a simple and fun way to get a glimpse of local tastes. It also gives you a quick sense of the cost of everyday life in Taiwan, just by looking at the prices of snacks, drinks, and daily essentials on the shelves.

Withdraw Cash at In-Store ATMs

While credit cards and mobile payments such as Google Pay and Apple Pay are widely accepted in Taiwan, cash is still the preferred payment method for taxis, local food stalls, and traditional markets.

The good news is, you don’t need to exchange cash before your trip. Every convenience store in Taiwan has an ATM. As long as your debit/credit card has a Visa, Mastercard, or Plus/Cirrus (among others) logo, you will be able to withdraw New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) without any issues.

This makes it easy to take out cash as needed, so you don’t need to carry a lot of cash or search for a bank for currency exchange.

Buy A Themed EasyCard

An EasyCard is a rechargeable smart card that makes paying for public transportation (such as MRT and buses) so much easier. You can also use it at many attractions, supermarkets, convenience stores, and even restaurants and department stores.

You can top up your EasyCard at the cashier of a convenience store (you can have a maximum of NTD 10,000 on the card).

If you’re looking for something a bit more fun or unique, check out the themed EasyCards available at the counter. These special editions often feature popular characters, local landmarks, or seasonal artwork.

They work just like regular EasyCards, but with a design twist—and they make great souvenirs to remember your Taiwan trip.

Grab a Good Coffee

If you need a caffeine boost, there’s no need to search for a Starbucks or a fancy café.

All the convenience store chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, OK Mart, and Hi-Life) serve freshly brewed coffee, and it’s surprisingly good. You can order hot or iced lattes, Americanos, and cappuccinos (and many more!) at the counter.

I personally like the latte from FamilyMart, while many of my friends like getting an Americano from 7-Eleven. You can try them all and pick your favorite!

Most drinks cost between NT$45–55 (about USD $1.50), which is much cheaper than what you’d pay at a coffee chain.

Send and Receive Packages

If you need to send something back home during your trip, there’s no need to look for a FedEx or DHL location.

Convenience stores in Taiwan offer shipping services. Staff can help you prepare the package, and you can easily ship items both domestically and internationally.

Convenience stores are also a popular pick-up point for online shopping in Taiwan.

If you’re ordering something online during your stay, maybe some clothes, gadgets, or travel essentials, you can have it delivered to a nearby convenience store instead of your hotel or Airbnb. It’s especially useful if you’re moving around or staying somewhere without a receptionist to receive your package.

And if you don’t like something you’ve ordered, you can also return items by dropping them off at the convenience stores.

Top Up Your Phone

If you’re using a prepaid SIM card during your trip to Taiwan, topping up your phone is easy at any convenience store.

Inside the store there is a touchscreen kiosk, such as 7-Eleven’s ibon or FamilyMart’s FamiPort, where you can select your telecom provider and the type of top-up you need (data or voice, or both). After making your selection, the machine will print out a receipt, which you bring to the counter to pay.

Buy Train Tickets

The touchscreen kiosk also lets you purchase or pick up train tickets for travel around Taiwan. There is a small service fee, but it’s still the most convenient way to get your tickets in advance without going to the train station.

Once you complete your purchase, the kiosk will generate a receipt for you to take to the counter, where you’ll pay and receive your printed ticket on the spot.

Grab a Quick Meal

Restaurants in Taiwan don’t always open early or stay open late, which can be tricky if you’re dealing with jet lag or an unpredictable schedule.

In the refrigerated section, you’ll find a variety of ready-to-eat meals such as sandwiches, salads, and microwaveable bento boxes. The staff can heat them up for you, and the quality is often better than you might expect for the price.

In the winter, there are also warm snacks such as tea eggs (茶葉蛋), steamed yams (蒸地瓜), and oden (關東煮), which is a Japanese-style hot pot with ingredients simmered in a light, savory broth.

You can enjoy your meal at the seating section of the convenience store.

Use as a Rest Stop

With a school-age son, summer is now the only time we can come to Taiwan for an extended stay, and the summer heat can be so intense! When we’re out and about, we often feel the need to rest and cool off from the heat, and I’m so thankful for the convenience stores everywhere.

If you feel you need a quick break from walking and sightseeing, just pop in to cool off in the AC, use the restroom, grab a cold drink, and sit for a few minutes before continuing your journey.

Try Seasonal Snacks and Limited-Time Treats

During your visit, keep an eye out for promotional posters and banners advertising seasonal or limited-edition snacks and drinks.

For example, this past winter, both FamilyMart and 7-Eleven launched a whole line of strawberry-themed products: everything from strawberry cream puffs and cakes and strawberry flavored drinks to seasonal packaging and snacks.

Since we usually spend our extended stay in Taiwan during the summer, one of our favorite things to do is try all the different soft serve ice cream flavors.

These limited-edition items usually only stick around for a short time, so it’s worth stopping by to see what’s new whenever you’re near a store.

Buy Pineapple Cakes

Did you know you don’t have to go to a pineapple cake specialty store to buy Taiwan’s famous pastries? Convenience stores like 7-Eleven often carry individually packaged versions of popular snacks such as pineapple cakes, sun cakes, and salty egg yolk pastry.

This is a great way to try a few different brands before committing to a full box.

And if you find one you really like, 7-Eleven also stocks larger packs from well-known bakeries such as Pan’s Bakery （小潘） and ChiaTe （佳德）. So if you’re short on time or don’t feel like making a special trip to a standalone store, this option saves you both time and hassle.

The price might be a bit higher than buying directly from a specialty shop, but if you’re on a tight schedule or just want to save yourself the hassle, the convenience is well worth it.

Final Thoughts

It’s easy to overlook convenience stores when planning your trip, but in Taiwan, they’re more than just places to grab a drink or snack.

Here is a recap:

I’m always amazed by the staff who work at these stores. They handle so many different services with efficiency and kindness, from heating up meals and printing tickets to managing bill payments and package deliveries. It’s part of what makes the experience feel so smooth and welcoming.

I hope this article is helpful to you!