So you’ve booked a trip to Taipei. You’re building your itinerary, doing research on the best things to do, the best places to stay, the hikes you’re gonna go on, the night markets you’re gonna visit. And of course, how you’re supposed to be getting around when you get there.
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Getting around Taipei is actually super straightforward. The public transportation system is clean, comprehensive, and easy to understand. So let’s get into everything you need to know about Taipei transit so that you’ll be navigating the city like a local in no time.
Table of Contents
The EasyCard
First things first. You MUST learn about the EasyCard. I’m putting this section all the way up here because it’s really important that you go get yourself an EasyCard.
You need it before you even step foot on a train or rent a bike.
So, what is an EasyCard?
It’s a smart card that you tap to pay for almost everything transit related. You can use it on the Taoyuan Airport MRT, the Taipei MRT, city buses, and to rent YouBikes. You can even use it to buy snacks at 7-Eleven or FamilyMart.
You can buy an EasyCard at any MRT station information desk or at any convenience store. I suggest getting yours at a convenience store because they stock much cuter designs.
An EasyCard costs NT$100 (~$3 USD), and then you load it with cash in convenience stores or at machines found at the MRT stations. You can ONLY load an EasyCard with cash.
You can also buy an EasyCard online and pick it up at the Taoyuan International Airport when you arrive. The biggest advantage of purchasing online is that you can get a preloaded card (with a NT$200 or NT$400) balance so you don’t have to worry about getting cash right away.
Airport Transfers
Ok, so you’ve got your flight booked. You know about the EasyCard. Next thing you should be figuring out is which airport you’re landing in.
Taipei has two different airports, Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA). It’s important to know which airport you’re gonna be landing in because their locations are really different (And by different I mean they’re in different cities).
Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
Most international flights land at Taoyuan International Airport. This airport is actually located about 40 kilometers (~25 miles) outside of Taipei.
But no need to worry. Getting to Taipei from here is a breeze.
Taoyuan Airport MRT
A super fast and convenient way to get to Taipei from TPE is through the Taoyuan Airport MRT. Once you have your bags, just follow the signs to the MRT station and look for the trains.
There are two types:
- The Express Train (Purple): This is the one you want! It skips most local stops and takes only 35 minutes to reach Taipei Main Station.
- The Commuter Train (Blue): This train stops at every single station along the route. It takes about 50 minutes to reach the city. If you are exhausted after a long flight, definitely go for the purple Express train!
Both options cost around NT$160 (~$5 USD) so we definitely suggest taking the Express Train! Plus, you already have that EasyCard that we talked about earlier so you just have to tap the card at the gate to pay.
Keep in mind though that the MRT stops running before midnight so if you’re getting to Taiwan on a late-night flight, you’ll need a different option.
Airport Bus
For late-night arrivals (or if you just don’t want to deal with the train when you’ve got heavy luggage), the Airport Bus is a great option.
The Kuo-Kuang Bus Route 1819 operates 24/7, space for luggage storage (you can store 2 items for free), plus free Wi-Fi. The cost to take the bus from TPE to Taipei Main Station is around NT$140 (~$4.50 USD).
You can even book a roundtrip ticket online for ~$8 USD. Just be sure to redeem your physical tickets at a Kuo-Kuang Service Desk near the bus boarding area.
You will get two tickets, don’t lose either one!
The first ticket will be for your trip from the airport to Taipei which can only be used on the day you redeem it.
The second one is your return ticket from Taipei back to the airport. This ticket is flexible and is valid for 6 months.
Please note that you can only redeem your physical tickets from the service desk before 2:30am.
If you are arriving after that time, don’t worry. You can always buy a one-way ticket from the 24/7 automated kiosk or tap your EasyCard as you board the bus instead.
Car Services
If you’re in a group or you just don’t want to deal with trains or buses after your long flight, then consider a car service. You have three main options:
- Private Airport Transfers: This is the most stress-free option. You can pre-book a driver to wait for you in the arrivals hall with a name sign. It usually costs around $25–$35 USD for a standard car, making it incredibly affordable, especially if you are splitting it with another person.
- Taxis: You can find official yellow taxis lined up right outside the airport arrival hall. They are metered, safe, and reliable. A ride from Taoyuan to Taipei usually costs around NT$1,200 to 1,500 (~$40–$50 USD).
- Uber: Uber operates legally and seamlessly in Taiwan. You can call one right to the designated rideshare pickup zones at the airport using the exact same app you use at home.
Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA)
If you are flying in from places like Tokyo or Seoul, you might get lucky and land at Taipei Songshan Airport. Unlike TPE, this airport is located right in the heart of Taipei City.
Because it is already in the city, your airport transfer will be incredibly fast. You can access the MRT station from right underneath the Songshan Airport arrival hall.
All you have to do is tap your EasyCard at the gate and hop on the Wenhu Line (Brown Line), and you are immediately connected to the rest of the Taipei MRT network.
Just a reminder that the last trains in the MRT network run at midnight. If you are arriving late at night (or if you prefer not to take the metro), you can take an Uber (you can book one through the app) or taxi (located outside the arrival hall) from Songshan to your hotel. Since you are already in the city, it will be a very short and cheap trip compared to if you landed at Taoyuan International Airport.
Getting Around Taipei
You’re finally out of the airport. You’ve got your handy EasyCard. Now it’s time to explore Taiwan.
Taipei is incredibly well-connected and you can get almost anywhere without ever needing a rental car.
So let’s get into the ways you can get around Taipei!
Taipei MRT
For most of your trip (or at least this was the case for most of ours), you will be using the Taipei MRT for transit. It is clean. It is safe. It is efficient. The transit map is color coded, and station signs and announcements are also available in English.
Since you have your EasyCard, you can just tap it on the sensor as you walk through the gate, and tap it again when you exit the station. The system automatically calculates your fare based on distance.
If you don’t have an EasyCard, get one. Or you can buy a ticket from the automated ticket machines located at the station. You’ll get a ticket with a printed QR code that you scan at the gate.
The Golden Rules of the MRT:
The reason the trains are so clean is because there are rules to riding them.
- No eating or drinking. Once you cross the gate, you cannot eat, drink, or even chew gum. Yes, this includes taking a sip of water! You can be hit with a fine if caught, so finish your coffee before you tap in.
- Stand to the right. When riding the escalators, always stand on the right side so people in a rush can walk up the left.
- Wait in the lines. You’ll see white lines painted on the platforms. Commuters queue up within these lines to let passengers exit the train before boarding.
City Buses
While the MRT goes almost everywhere, the city buses are another amazing transport option for getting around Taipei. Sometimes, it can actually be faster to take the bus instead of the MRT (as was the case for us multiple times where it would have been a 15-minute walk to the station vs a 2-minute walk to the bus stop).
They’re super convenient and have great coverage throughout the city.
Plus, Google Maps (my travel bestie) is extremely accurate for Taipei bus routes.
So what do you have to do?
When the bus approaches your stop, simply wave your hand at the driver so they know to pull over. Tap your EasyCard on the machine next to the driver when you board, and tap it again when you get off.
Taxis & Uber
There’s nothing wrong with grabbing a taxi or Uber to get around Taipei, especially when your feet hurt.
Uber works great in Taipei. And it’s convenient because you don’t have to worry about a language barrier when communicating your destination. Just use the app that you’re already using at home (which means your credit card is already linked and ready to go!).
Meanwhile, taxis are everywhere and relatively cheap. You can hail them right off the street. Some taxis accept credit cards or the EasyCard, but it’s not guaranteed so you should definitely have some cash on hand in case. Another warning, some older taxi drivers do not speak English so make sure you’ve got a translation app handy!
YouBike 2.0
So between the MRT and the buses and the occasional taxi, you’ve unlocked the city. However, one of Tim’s very, very favorite way of getting around Taipei (especially the smaller, sleepier neighborhoods) is by YouBike (or UBike).
YouBike is this amazing bike-share system where you can rent yellow and white bikes (YouBike 2.0) that are parked at docking stations on almost every single street corner. And they even have e-bikes available to rent.
Please note: As of January 1, 2026, Taiwan requires all YouBike riders to enroll in the free Public Bicycle Injury Insurance before they can rent a bike.
How to Rent a YouBike
There’s two options for renting a YouBike.
One is for members, where you create an account using a local Taiwan phone number (so make sure you pick up a local SIM card) and you can add your EasyCard for payment. This option is great for long-term users.
The other option is single rentals for one-time users. This option is great for travelers who will only occasionally use the bikes. You just need an email and a credit card.
(Table with instructions)
Beyond Taipei: Trains to Neighboring Cities
Eventually, you are going to want to leave the city to explore the rest of Taiwan. No worries. Taiwan has two different train networks that will help you get from city to city no problem.
Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)
The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) is Taiwan’s bullet train and it runs down the west coast of the island. If you are heading south to Taichung, Chiayi (the gateway to Alishan!), Tainan, or Kaohsiung, this is what you will take. It’s super fast! Like, you can get from Taipei all the way down to Kaohsiung in just 90 minutes.
How To Buy Tickets
You cannot use your EasyCard to ride the THSR! You need to buy a separate ticket. You can buy them at the machines in the station or at a convenience store. However, we highly recommend booking them online in advance on because it often offers discounts for foreign tourists.
Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA)
If you’re looking at shorter day trips to the North or want to explore cities in Taiwan’s east coast, then the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) trains are the answer. This railway network is slower than the THSR, but it will get you where you need to go. So if you feel like getting to the hikes along the northern coast or visiting the beautiful Taroko Gorge, then you’re taking a TRA train to get there.
How To Buy Tickets
You can use your EasyCard for local, short-distance commuter TRA trains (just tap in and out like the subway). However, if you are taking a long-distance express train down the coast (like the Taroko or Puyuma express trains), you must buy a separate reserved ticket online or at the station window.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Once you grab an EasyCard and figure out the MRT, getting around Taipei becomes second nature. Now you don’t have to stress about the logistics, and you can spend your energy hunting down the best xiaolongbao and visiting all the temples in your itinerary.
Enjoy your Taipei adventure! And safe travels!
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