You’re in luck! Taipei is a toilet friendly city. So friendly, in fact, if you are really adventurous you can try dining at toilet themed restaurants with food served in toilet bowls!
But seriously, this is good news. Public restrooms are available by the scores all over the city. Public toilets are free of charge and are commonly available at the following locations:
- Convenience stores
- Gas stations
- Restaurants & cafes
- MRT
- Train stations
- Temples
- Shopping malls & large stores
Some restrooms in the MRT have real-time lighted signs that tell you which stalls are occupied, so no more peeking under the stall doors for feet!
Fast food restaurants have restrooms available for public use, and you are not required to be a paying customer to use the facilitates. Same goes for gas stations and convenience stores.
Restrooms are usually designated as men, women, or unisex. Occasionally there are family restrooms for parents so they can assist their small children. Also, public restrooms in the MRT and train stations are well equipped for people with special needs; large stalls include features like grab bars, toilet frames, backrests and emergency buttons or pull cords.
There are typically three types of toilets in Taipei: sit-down flush toilets, squat flush toilets and urinals.
Usually toilet paper is provided in the bathroom stalls. In some instances, however, the toilet paper will be outside the stalls. If you enter a stall and there is no toilet paper have a look around the common area by the wash basins. There may be a toilet paper dispenser mounted to the wall. You will need to estimate how much you will need in advance. In some places, toilet paper is not available and you must provide your own. Keeping a small pack of tissue in your bag or pocket is a good idea.
Quite often the toilet paper looks more like sheets of facial tissue rather than the conventional rolls you will find in the United States.
Perhaps due to old plumbing or custom, toilet paper is not flushed. There will be a trash can next to the toilet in which you should deposit your used toilet tissue.
Public restrooms vary in terms of cleanliness, but are generally acceptable. Sinks for hand-washing are always available, although sometimes soap is not. Paper towels or hand dryers are usually, although not always, available.
Wherever you are in Taipei, a public restroom is never far away!
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