Taipei Transportation

Taipei is the transportation hub of the whole Taiwan Island. Travelers can take a flight from many places in the world to get here; then enjoy a train ride or a long-distance bus trip to other cities on the island; or take metro, city buses, taxis or bikes to travel around the city.
 

Air

There are two airports available for you: Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport.

Taoyuan Airport is the most important international aviation hub of Taiwan. Many cities have direct flights to get there such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dubai, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. It has buses to Taipei Bus Station and Nangang Exhibition Center Station, taking 40 minutes or so. What’s more, shuttle buses and airport metro are available for you to high speed rail Taoyuan Station, where you can take a high speed train to Taipei or other cities in west Taiwan. There are also free hotel buses to Novotel. A skytrain and buses commute between two terminals.

Taipei Songshan Airport operates the domestic air routes to / fromBeijing, Tianjin, Wuhan, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Hefei, Chengdu and Chongqing… and international destinations include Seoul and Tokyo. Airport shuttle bus 214/ 1/ 16, Metro Wenhu Line and city bus 254, Dunhua Line and inter-zone bus line 262, which are all available for you to travel between Songshan Airport and Downtown Taipei.
 

Train

The city has more than one railway station. Among them, Taipei Railway Station is the largest, where Taiwan Rail Line and Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) meet. You can go to any other cities of Taiwan through Taiwan Rail Line such as Yilan, Hualien, Taitung and Pingtung. Taiwan High Speed Rail only passes the western cities like Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.

Schedule and Ticket Price ( NT$) to Major Destinations:
To  By Taiwan Rail Line  By Taiwan High Speed Rail
 Travel Time Ticket Price Travel Time Ticket Price for Standard Seat
Taoyuan 30m   51-66  20min 160
Taichung 2h15m  289-375  1h 700
Tainan 4.5-6h  569-738 1.5-2h 1,350
Kaohsiung 5-7h 650-843 2h 1,490
Taitung 3.5-7h 604-929  --- ---


The station has four underground floors. The ticket hall is on the B1, the railway platform is on the B3, and the B2 and B4 are for the metro.

You can take both the metro and the city bus from the station to other downtown places. The metro and buses 63, 2, 14, 15, 22, 39, 205, 218, 246, and many others have a stop here.

 See more about Taiwan Train
 

Long-Distance Bus

Taipei Bus Station, located to the north of Railway Station, is the largest bus center of the city. The bus station and the railway station are connected by an underground passage. It is only 10 minutes’ walk between the two. The exits R1, Y1, Y3, and Y5 of the underground passage lead to the bus station. Many long-distance passenger transport companies are set there, among which Kuokuang Passenger Transport has the best reputation. The bus destinations include Kaohsiung, Tainan, Chiayi, Hualien, Taichung, which depart every one hour. The bus to Chiayi costs about NT$250 with the duration of 4.5 hours, to Tainan takes 5 hours and NT$350, to Kaohsiung costs  NT$500 with the travel time of 6 hours, and to Hualien takes 5 hours with the ticket price of NT$400.

Taipei City Hall Bus Station is also of great importance in the transportation to Keelung, Yilan, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, and Tainan. To get there, you can take the metro to City Hall, and go out from the exit 2.
 

Ship

There are ships traveling between Taipei and Fujian Pingtan on Mainland China. The ship from Pingtan departs at 09:00 on Monday and Saturday, and 14:30 on Tuesday and Wednesday. The duration is about 3 hours. A first class ticket costs NT$6,500 and a tourist class ticket costs NT$4,500 for a single trip. Sometimes you may enjoy a discount.
 Metro is the most efficient transport to travel around the city. It has seven lines passing a number of scenic spots and transport hubs such as Taoyuan Airport, Shihlin, Tamsui, Ximenting, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. A single trip costs NT$20-65 based on the distance and a one-day ticket coasts NT$200. Transportation cards to be mentioned below can also be used to take the metro.
Taipei Metro Map

Tips:
1. Drinking, eating or smoking on rapid transit vehicles is forbidden.
2. In the first and last carriage, it is not allowed to use a cell phone.
3. Bicycles are allowed to take into many stations for MRT ride.
 

City Bus

There are over 300 bus routes in the city. Shihlin, Chunghsiao East Road, and Jhonghua Road are all important transfer places. Besides, you can take the bus near almost each metro station to those scenic spots. A one-section journey costs  NT$15. The buses may not stop at every stop, so you have to ring before getting off and wave to the driver to get on. To name a few bus routes, to Taipei 101, you can take buses 1, 284, 611 or 650 and get off at the World Trade Center; to National Palace Museum, you can take buses Red 30, 255, 304, 815, Small 18, Small 19, Brown 13, and Brown 20.
 

Taxi

The taxis are yellow there. 

Fare   Daytime Night: 23:00 – 06:00
Flag-down Rate for First 1.25km (0.8mi) NT$70 NT$70
Surcharge  NT$5 per 250m (273yd)  Less than NT$5 per 250m (273yd)
Waiting Fee  NT$5 for every 1min 40sec
Night Allowance  NT$20 per ride 
Trunk Usage Fee NT$10
 
 

Bike

The city has about 180 bicycle lease stations and riding a bike is a good way to see the city. You can use the Easy Card to rent or pay NT$2,000 as deposit. It takes NT$10 every 30 minutes for the first 4 hours, NT$20 every 30 minutes for 4-8 hours, and NT$40 every 30 minutes after 8 hours. On the way, you can find clear route signs. What’s more, there are also detailed cycling maps for you.
 

Maokong Gondola

Maokong Gondola is the main transport in Maokong area where roads are narrow. The cable car has two stations in and around the zoo, a Chihnan Temple station, and a Maokong station. There are 30 crystal cable cars for you to better enjoy the beautiful scenery. The ticket price is  NT$70 for a one-stop trip,  NT$100 for a two-stop journey, and NT$120 for three. You can also buy a round-trip ticket at the price of NT$260 and a one-way trip will be gifted. Also, one-day ticket is available and it costs NT$350.
 

Cruise Ship

The Blue Highway is a sightseeing sea route. You can cruise the Tamsui River from Twatutia, Dajia, Kwantu, Meidi, and Xikou wharves.
 

Motorcycle

Motorcycles are commonly used in Taiwan. You can rent one with an International Driver’s License to travel around the city. There are motorcycle rental shops at No.132 of Chang’an West Road, No.9 of Wanda Road and many other places in the city.

Beitou District is special for its motorcycle service. You can take them to shuttle back and forth. Most drivers are the locals, and they usually prepare a helmet for you. The starting price is NT$40.
 

Taipei Transportation Smart Cards

For convenience, you are recommended to buy an Easy Card. It can be used to take the metro, city bus, taxi or ship, rent the bicycle, and pay in chain shops. By using the card, you will enjoy a discount on metro or bus tickets, and a 30-minute free ride of the public bicycles.

Taipei Pass is also usable to take the metro and the city buses. The one-day ticket costs NT$180, two-day ticket costs NT$310, three-day ticket costs NT$440, and five-day ticket costs NT$700. They allow passengers to take the metro and city buses unlimitedly within the valid time. 


 Further Reading: How to Travel between Taipei and Xiamen
- Last updated on Jul. 12, 2022 -
Questions & Answers on Taipei Transportation
Asked by Lee from MALAYSIA | Jan. 12, 2024 20:26Reply
Taipei 30 days Transportation Pass
I understand there is a 30 days Northern Taiwan Transportation Pass that covers Taipei, Taoyuan Airport, New Taipei City, Keelung etc using MRT, buses and local trains, which cost NT1200 launched in July or August 2023. Will this Pass cover Taoyuan city too or just the airport? Can I use this Pass to go from Taipei to Taoyuan(not airport) or Taoyuan Airport to Taoyuan city?
Answers (1)
Answered by Daisy | Jan. 14, 2024 23:39
00Reply


Yes, it covers Taoyuan City now.
Asked by Nur from MALAYSIA | Feb. 01, 2020 19:45Reply
Hi, Is there any direct bus from/to Taichung & Hualien? Thanks.
Answers (1)
Answered by Hattie from DENMARK | Feb. 02, 2020 16:55
00Reply


Do you start from Taipei Taoyuan Airport? If yes, there are direct buses to Taichung.
To Hualien: Take shuttle bus to Taipei Railway Station and then transfer to the high speed train to Hualien.
Asked by kannika from THAILAND | Jan. 14, 2020 19:40Reply
I plan to go to Tainan directly from Toayuan airport.
From searching, there are buses of Kuo Kuang Bus company from Taoyuan airport to Taichung and the Taichung to Tainan. Can I just walk-in to buy bus tickets at the counter at the airport?
Answers (1)
Answered by Claire from NEW ZEALAND | Jan. 16, 2020 18:07
00Reply


Yes, you can. Just follow the signs in the airport.
Asked by Chujai from THAILAND | Dec. 17, 2019 01:07Reply
The original ticket is not available.
Dear all,

May I have information regarding I have asked my friend in Taiwan bought the TSA ticket from Taipei to Xincheng by paying at Family Mart. I would like to know whether I can show only photo of ticket and my passport for travelling by TSA train when I arrive at Taiwan. To avoid sending the original ticket to me (I come from Thailand).

Thank you very much and Best Regards,
Answers (1)
Answered by Cindy from MALAYSIA | Dec. 19, 2019 18:37
00Reply


I think you need to held a real train ticket not just a photo.
Asked by Neth from PHILIPPINES | Nov. 26, 2019 16:07Reply
Hi. I will be arriving at 1am. Is it ok to take bus from taoyuan airport to xuchang?
Answers (1)
Answered by Jennie from AUSTRALIA | Nov. 28, 2019 18:52
00Reply


Sorry, I didn't find the available public bus at that time.
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