Taipei – known for Taipei 101, its temples & Beitou Hot Springs.
It is also the largest city in Taiwan while also being its capital.
Writing a list of all the cool things to do in Taipei would require another blog post (or a dedicated Taipei blog), so I will save you from that because you want to know what SIM card and eSIM options are available at the airport.
This guide is about the airport in the middle of Taipei, not Taiwan's main international airport called Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. You can also get SIM cards at that airport, which you can read in my Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport SIM card buying guide.
Anyway, which SIM cards are available at the airport?
You can get a Chunghwa Telecom SIM card for between 280 NTD (8.70 USD) to 3999 NTD (124.10 USD) at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA).
That is quite a spread – what gives?
The validity of these SIM cards range from three days to 180 days.
And because only tourist SIM cards and plans are available at the airport.
But before you get disappointed thinking you are getting robbed at the airport because most airports sell SIM cards at inflated prices, you actually do want to get a Taiwanese SIM card at airports because they give you truly unlimited data.
Yes – not kidding. I used a Chunghwa Telecom SIM card for three months and consumed about 200 GB – and I did not experience any speed drop!
Anyway, let's review all your options at Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
Original publication: 27th of December 2022. Last updated: 15th of January 2024.
Table of Contents
Mobile Operators in Taiwan
Before I tell you about the SIM card and eSIM options you have at Taipei Songshan Airport, you first need to know about all the mobile operators in Taiwan.
Taiwan has five mobile operators and one Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信)
- Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大)
- Far EasTone (遠傳電信)
- T Star Taiwan (台灣之星)
- GT Mobile Taiwan (亞太電信)
- Ibon Mobile (統一超商電信 – Far EasTone MVNO)
Sure, there are some online-based MVNOs, but they are not available to tourists.
For more information about Taiwanese SIM cards, check out my Taiwan SIM card buying guide.
Alright, back to what Taipei Songshan Airport has to offer to us.
Where to Buy a SIM Card (or eSIM) at Taipei Songshan Airport?
At Taipei Songshan Airport, there is only one booth selling Taiwanese SIM cards (and eSIMs): Chunghwa Telecom.
Fortunately, that is the best performing mobile operator in the country, so you will be in good hands if you get a Chunghwa Telecom SIM card at Taipei Songshan Airport.
But it is not like you have any other option anyway 🤪.
Anyway, you cannot miss the Chunghwa Telecom booth – it is in the main hall of the airport next to the exit.
Because of SIM card registration requirements in Taiwan, SIM cards have to be purchased from the official stores of the mobile operators.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
They are unavailable from other resellers, such as 7-Eleven (even though 7-Eleven Taiwan has a mobile brand called Ibon Mobile, but they are not sold at airports).
Let's see what Chunghwa Telecom has to offer us.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Chunghwa Telecom Sell at Taipei Songshan Airport (+Prices)?
Chunghwa Telecom only sells its tourist SIM cards at Taipei Songshan Airport, ranging from 280 NTD to 3999 NTD.
I will list all the prices in NTD (New Taiwan Dollar).
To convert NTD to your currency (let's say HKD – Hong Kong Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Chunhgwa Telecom (中華電信 – CHT) is the largest and oldest mobile operator in Taiwan.
At Taipei Songshan Airport, you have one booth selling Chunghwa Telecom SIM cards located in the airport's main hall (arrivals/departures combined).
Chunghwa Telecom has two variants for the tourist SIM cards: 4G Traveler SIM & 5G Traveler SIM.
The following 11 Chunghwa Telecom 4G Traveler SIM cards are available:
| Price | SIM Card | Call Credit | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 280 NTD | 4G 1.2 GB Pass | 100 NTD | 1.2 GB | 16 days |
| 300 NTD | 4G 3-Day Pass | 100 NTD | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 300 NTD | 4G 5-Day Pass ($300) | 50 NTD | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 400 NTD | 4G 2.2 GB Pass | 100 NTD | 2.2 GB | 16 days |
| 500 NTD | 4G 5-Day Pass ($500) | 300 NTD | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 500 NTD | 4G 7-Day Pass | 150 NTD | Unlimited | 7 days |
| 500 NTD | 4G 10-Day Pass | 100 NTD | Unlimited | 10 days |
| 699 NTD | 4G 5 GB Pass | N/A | 5 GB | 16 days |
| 700 NTD | 4G 15-Day Pass ($700) | 100 NTD | Unlimited | 15 days |
| 800 NTD | 4G 15-Day Pass ($800) | 250 NTD | Unlimited | 15 days |
| 1000 NTD | 4G 30-Day Pass | 430 NTD | Unlimited | 30 days |
Disclaimer: the SIM card prices mentioned in the guide were current when I was in Taiwan – the offering and prices may have changed since then. To see Chunghwa Telecom's current starter packs, check out my Taiwan SIM card buying guide.
Yes, you get truly unlimited data (except for the ones with a data allowance of course), including unlimited tethering (mobile hotspot).
But… more plans are available, which are not advertised anywhere else, except for at the airport.
If you plan on staying in Taiwan for more than 30 days, these (4G/LTE) plans are also available to you:
| Price | Credit | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2199 NTD | 199 NTD | Unlimited | 90 days |
| 3999 NTD | 399 NTD | Unlimited | 180 days |
That photo above is from a GT Mobile Taiwan reseller at Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), but these offers are available at Taipei Songshan Airport too (but you may have to ask for them).
This is also a good moment to inform you that Chunghwa Telecom tourist SIM cards cannot be extended (not even by topping up).
That is why I mentioned that I purchased several Chunghwa Telecom SIM cards (because extension is impossible and the government announced visa extensions every month without any indication if it would be extended the month after).
So if you know you want to explore Taiwan for several months, it is recommended (and cheaper) to go for a multi-month SIM card outright instead of buying multiple short-term ones.
The photo above was from a T Star Taiwan reseller at Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport again.
You see that its T Star's prices are lower than Chunghwa Telecom… but I can already tell you that Chunghwa Telecom is worth the few extra 100 NTD (because T Star Taiwan throttles your speed without telling you, AND its coverage is meh).
Okay, back to Chunghwa Telecom – you have the following Chunghwa Telecom 5G Traveler SIM cards:
| Price | SIM Card | Call Credit | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 NTD | 5G 3-Day Pass | 100 NTD | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 600 NTD | 5G 5-Day Pass | 50 NTD | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 800 NTD | 5G 7-Day Pass | 300 NTD | Unlimited | 7 days |
Just like the 4G SIM cards, you get truly unlimited data with the 5G SIM cards, but tethering (mobile hotspot) is limited (3 GB, 5 GB & 7 GB, respectively).
Lastly, can you get a Chunghwa Telecom eSIM at Taipei Songshan Airport? Yes, you can.
As of October 2022, Chunghwa Telecom offers eSIMs to prepaid customers (previously only to postpaid users).
But you can only get its eSIMs from the Chunghwa Telecom stores at the airports, not from resellers (so the stores with the Chunhgwa Telecom logos – not the ones also selling T Star Taiwan and GT Mobile Taiwan SIM cards).
Getting a Chunghwa Telecom eSIM does not cost anything extra.
However, you do have to comply with Taiwan's SIM card registration requirements.
If you do not want to deal with that, you can learn about all recommended eSIM options for Taiwan, which many Phone Travel Wiz can vouch for too, check out my Taiwan eSIM comparison guide (with one option also offering unlimited data in the country).
Also, be sure to read my Chunghwa Telecom review if you are interested in getting a Chunghwa Telecom SIM card.
Should You Get a SIM Card at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA)?
I recommend getting a SIM card at Taipei Songshan Airport because the best SIM cards are sold there – from Chunghwa Telecom. They are of good value and at regular prices.
Chunghwa Telecom sells tourist SIM cards with truly unlimited data, even to be used as a mobile hotspot.
Although the 5G NR-enabled SIM card do have a tether data cap, which is 3 GB, 5 GB, or 7 GB, depending on the SIM card you choose.
Chunghwa Telecom SIM cards are valid between three to 180 days, costing between 280 NTD and 3999 NTD – 5G NR SIM cards are available.
You can visit some Chunghwa Telecom stores to get one of its tourist SIM cards, but you may have to visit multiple (and the salesperson may tell you to go to Taiwan Mobile instead).
Even then, you should not bother if the Chunghwa Telecom booth is still open upon your arrival.
Mostly because Chunghwa Telecom has the best overall network performance (coverage, 4G/LTE speed & 5G NR speed).
That is why Taiwan is one of the few countries where airport SIM cards are of excellent value.
But also one of the few where getting a prepaid SIM card outside the airport can be challenging.
Unless you have time to burn… like being stuck in the country for a year during the pandemic.
But I am sure this guide will save you plenty of time, as you do not have to visit multiple stores to find a prepaid SIM card – I did that for you already 😜.
Buying Taiwanese SIM Cards at Airports
Are you arriving at another Taiwanese airport? SIM cards are probably sold there too.
Read my SIM card buying guides for other Taiwanese airports:
Taiwanese SIM Card Reviews
I tried out all Taiwanese SIM cards that are available to tourists.
You should read those reviews.
>>> Chunghwa Telecom Review | Taiwan Mobile Review | Far EasTone Review | T Star Taiwan Review | GT Mobile Taiwan Review | Ibon Mobile Review <<<
Check out my reviews page if you want to read all the other reviews I have written, including other Asian SIM cards.