Convenience Store Access: Taiwan’s Unique Infrastructure

Western travellers often underestimate how fundamentally convenience stores shape daily life in Taiwan. This isn’t about picking up emergency supplies or late-night snacks, though they excel at that too. Convenience stores function as an essential layer of urban infrastructure.

Taiwan has one convenience store for approximately every 1,703 people, giving it the world’s second highest density of convenience stores. In practical terms, this means you’re rarely more than a few minutes’ walk from a convenience store in any urban or even semi-rural area.

Why does this matter for accommodation choice? Because Taiwan’s convenience stores offer services that Western travellers typically associate with specialised businesses or post offices:

Financial services. Need cash? Every convenience store has an ATM. Need to pay a bill? They handle utility payments, parking fees, even traffic fines. This eliminates the need to locate banks or payment centres.

Transport connectivity. Purchase and top up your EasyCard (the contactless card used for MRT, buses, and even some purchases) at any convenience store. In some stores, you can even buy SIM cards for your phone.

Parcel services. Many online purchases in Taiwan can be delivered to your local convenience store for pickup. If you’re buying souvenirs or items online, having accommodation near a designated convenience store becomes your personal parcel collection point. You can also send packages through convenience stores, making them a convenient all-in-one logistics hub for travellers.

Food and drink options. Beyond packaged snacks, convenience stores offer fresh coffee, ready meals you can heat in-store, and even seating areas where you can eat. This isn’t emergency food—many locals genuinely prefer convenience store coffee and eat there regularly.

24-hour availability. Most convenience stores operate round the clock, providing a safety net for early flights, late arrivals, or simply odd-hour needs.