Guide to Getting Around Taipei

This is an overview of all the ways to get around Taipei City, Taiwan. Keep reading to learn more.

I’ve lived around Taipei for more than 5 years and have frequently used all the public transportation methods. That motivated me to write this guide to help you find a good way to get around.

All Transportation Methods Compared

Here are all the ways to get around Taipei City, Taiwan:

The following sections will compare each transportation method more in-depth. I’ll talk about payment methods, prices, and other important information.

Let’s dive in.

1. Taipei MRT: Best Overall

• How to Pay *: EasyCard, icash 2.0, HappyCash, cash, & iPass
• Avg. Price **: NT$20–65
• Number of Stations: 131
• Taipei MRT Peak Times: 7:00–9:00 AM & 5:00–7:30 PM

The Taipei MRT is the best way to get around for anyone who wants to access most of Taipei’s tourist attractions and popular night markets. But it’s not ideal for reaching residential areas in Taipei.

But that’s not your problem (hopefully).

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) has 6 lines with above- and below-ground train carts. You’ll enter most stations by going underground. And they’re immaculate.

Most MRT stations will have umbrella rental stations, restrooms, water fountains, and charging stations for electronics. Many will also connect to shopping malls, which could be an excellent activity when it’s raining or too hot outside.

Buy an MRT ticket from the staff inside the customer service booths or use one of the electronic kiosks. I recommend getting a Taipei EasyCard and refilling it at kiosks or convenience stores.

Taipei Metro Passes Compared

Here are all the main Taipei Metro passes passengers have access to:

Pass	Price	Best For
One-Day Pass	NT$150	Many Trips Within 1 Day
24-Hour Pass	NT$180	Best For Trips To Many Stations Within 24 Hours
48-Hour Pass	NT$280	Best For Trips To Many Stations Within 48 Hours
72-Hour Pass	NT$380	Best For Trips To Many Stations Within 72 Hours
Taipei FunPASS	NT$180–NT$2,200	Unlimited Bus/MRT Rides + Entry To Some Attractions
TPASS	NT$1,200/mo.	Unlimited Bus, MRT, TRA, & LRT rides (in northern regions) + 30 min. YouBike usage

Choose whatever pass best matches the time you’ll stay in Taipei. You all who are living in, studying in, or working in Taipei should opt for the Monthly Pass.

Wait. More passes exist.

Taipei Fun Pass Types Compared

Here are the different Fun Passes:

Taipei Fun Pass Type	1-Day	2-Day	3-Day	4-Day	5-Day
Classic	NT$950	NA	NA	NA	NA
Exploring	NA	NT$650	NT$850	NT$1,050	NA
Unlimited	NT$1,500	NT$1,900	NT$2,200	NA	NA
Transportation	NT$180	NT$310	NT$440	NA	NT$700
Maokong Gondola	NT$350	NA	NA	NA	NA

And here are what each pass is best for:

Taipei Fun Pass Type	Best For
Classic	Entry into 2 attractions & doubles as EasyCard
Exploring	Entry into 23 attractions
Unlimited	Unlimited MRT & bus rides + entry into 25 attractions
Transportation	Shuttle bus rides
Maokong Gondola	Taking the Maokong Gondola

There’s no reason to cover Classic and Exploring since this is a post about public transportation. I cover all attractions these passes grant free entry to in a separate post.

Unlimited will get you free entry into 25 attractions throughout Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung cities. And they’ll grant you unlimited Taipei Metro and city-wide bus rides.

Calculate the entry fees into each tourist attraction and the cost of transportation to get there. Then compare it to the Fun Passes and see whether it’ll save you money.

2. YouBike: Taipei’s Bicycle Rental Service

• How to Pay *: EasyCard, iPass, or bank card
• Price: Varies

YouBike is a public bicycle sharing service with more than a thousand stations throughout various cities.

Find docking stations through Google Maps or the YouBike app. They’re by metro stations, parks, and major tourist attractions most of the time.

There are 3 different types of YouBikes:

• YouBike 1.0: basic YouBike
• YouBike 2.0: upgraded from the 1.0 with more cushy handlebars
• YouBike 2.0E: electric assisted bicycles that are great for old people

Here are the rates you’ll pay for rentals throughout Taiwan:

Price	Duration
NT$5 ($0.17)	First 30 minutes
NT$10 ($0.34)	Per 30 minutes (for the next 4 hours)
NT$20 ($0.68)	Per 30 minutes (for the next 4–8 hours)
NT$40 ($1.36)	Per 30 minutes (after 8 hours)
YouBike 2.0 E
NT$20	Per 30 minutes (for the first 2 hours)
NT$40	per 30 minutes (from the 3rd hour forward)
Misc Fees
NT$150	Roadside assistance

You must register for using a YouBike online or at a kiosk before using it. Follow the link in the beginning of this section to a guide that’ll show you how to register.

3. Public Bus: Most Affordable

• How to Pay *: Any smart card (e.g., EasyCard) & coins
• Avg. Price **:
  • 1 segment: NT$15
  • 2-segment: NT$30
  • 3-segment: NT$45

Segment means traveling from one stop to the next.

Mountain buses, shuttles, recreational buses, small buses, electric buses, and driverless buses are on the way.

While it might feel like a roller-coaster on the city buses, they still offer more affordable pricing than most other transportation options. They aren’t ideal for riding during rush hour.

Most buses allow the use of contactless cards. Tap when boarding and leaving—or pay with cash.

Things change when you take an intercity bus, the cheapest route for traveling through Taiwan. Purchase tickets from any Taiwanese convenience store, in person at the station, or from ticket machines at bus stations.

4. Car Rentals: Best for Road Trips

• Rental Price: Varies
• Avg. Parking Cost: Up to NT$150/hr.
• Documents Required: IDP, passport, & payment card
• Required Age to Rent: 20

Avoid this option if you don’t have an International Driving Permit (IDP). If you don’t have your IDP, no car rental service will let you rent any vehicles.

You must visit your country’s automobile association to get started with getting your International Driving Permit. The United States, for instance, has the American Automobile Association.

If you have your IDP and are ready to rent a car in Taiwan, the island nation has a wide selection of rental agencies. Prices range between $65 and $260 (USD) per day.

Avis is one of Taiwan’s most popular car rental services and charges around NT$6,000 per day [1].

5. Scooter Rental: Best for Countryside Navigation

• Rental Price †: Around NT$100–800 per day
• Avg. Parking Cost **: Up to NT$20/hr.
• Documents Required: Taiwan driver’s license, passport, & payment card
• Required Age to Rent: 20

† This price doesn’t include gas or battery swapping costs.

These dangerous yet exhilarating and convenient motorized bikes have storefronts around most train stations and other areas throughout Taiwan’s cities. Moreover, many stores offer electric and gas options.

Another essential expense that you must consider is rain gear. Otherwise, driving in the rain, you’ll find yourself soaked.

Regarding driver’s licenses and permits, requirements depend on where you go.

Some places might require a Taiwanese Scooter License. Others will accept an International Driver’s Permit.

Some electric motorbike sharing services, for example, that require a scooter license, are GoShare and iRent. Scooter rental services that require international driver’s permits include SKRT and WeMo.

Mom-and-pop stores will vary depending on what part of Taiwan you’re visiting. For instance, the countryside will likely have more lenient requirements than a major city like Taipei.

Important tip: When renting a scooter in Taiwan, use lanes designated for motorbikes and keep your wits about you.

6. Maokong Gondola

• How to Pay *: Cash, card, & IC cards
• Avg. Price:

Ticket Type	Price (One-way)
1 Stop	NT$70
2 Stops	NT$100
3 Stops	NT$120
Discounted *	NT$60
1-Day Fun Pass	NT$260

The Maokong Gondola is accessible at the base of the Taipei Zoo Brown Line MRT station and will take you to the peak of Maokong Mountain. A great place to get tea.

It’s a great alternative to hiking, taking a bus, or a taxi up the mountain. Plus, it’ll give you an excellent view of Taipei City.

However, the Gondola will close during days with bad weather. You probably shouldn’t be traveling to the mountains in that type of weather, anyway.

7. Taxi: Most Efficient Way to get Around

• How to Pay *: Cash, card, & IC cards
• Avg. Price **:
  • Base fare: NT$70 (first 1.25 km)
  • Rate: NT$5 (per 200 m)
  • Waiting Time: NT$5 (per 100 sec)

• TaipeiTraffic Division, Taipei City Police Department: +886-2311-6409 or +886-2375-2100
  • Taipei Department of Transportation: +886-2-2720-8889 ext.6888
  • Taipei City Public Transportation Office: +886-2-2759-2677

Taking the taxi or an Uber is best for anyone who wants to get to outlying areas in Taipei not covered by the MRT or have a lot of stuff to carry. They’re also a great alternative to buses when it’s raining a lot.

It beats waiting at a potentially uncovered bus stop.

This public transportation costs the most, though. And could take longer than other methods during rush hour due to traffic jams.

Tips for Getting Around

Follow these tips when navigating Taipei:

• Get a Taipei public transportation card (EasyCard): It’ll remove the need for tokens & cash when entering public transportation.
• Stand on right side of escalator; walk on left: The left side is for passing standing folks only.
• Don’t speak loudly on public transportation: It’s considered rude.
• Don’t eat on public transportation: It’s a fine(able) offense.
• Don’t be late to your scheduled ride: Public transportation is punctual & won’t wait for you.

Here’s the most important tip:

Keep your head on a swivel when walking outside public transportation (e.g., on a sidewalk). Many areas in Taipei’s outskirts don’t have sidewalks or have motorbike drivers who’ll ride on sidewalks.

Ensure they don’t hit you. Also, don’t stand under air conditioners built into buildings. They have the potential to fall off due to poor construction and have killed someone. A brick fell off a building and almost hit me as well.

I recommend standing under covered areas when waiting for buses, taxis, and Ubers.

Things to do in Taipei

Taiwan Pass North (TPASS) Explained 

The Taiwan Pass (TPASS) grants unlimited use to the Taipei Metro, inner-city bus, inter-city bus, and Taiwan Railway Administration across Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan Cities. You’ll also get 30 minutes of free YouBike rental use each much.

This pass costs NT$1,200 and lasts for 30 days. Making it ideal for folks in Northern Taiwan who frequently commute. Or for tourists who will commute through all of Taiwan’s northern cities frequently.

It could also prove helpful to folks who are in Taiwan for business.

No TPASS encompasses all of Taiwan, just different regions. I cover all those regions in a separate piece.

How to get to Taipei City from Taoyuan International Airport

The following sections will tell you how to get to Taipei City.

1. Taiwan High-speed Rail (HSR)

• How to Pay *: EasyCard, icash 2.0, HappyCash, cash, & iPass
• Avg. Price **: NT$20–65
• Stations: 

You’d take the Taoyuan Metro to the Taoyuan HSR station, then take the high speed rail (HSR) to Taipei Main Station or Nangang Station. Trains for this route will start at NT$155 for a Non-Reserved Seat Adult ticket.

Prices will vary by station, car type, and Adult versus Concession versus Group Tickets.

2. Intercity Bus

• How to Pay *: EasyCard, icash 2.0, HappyCash, cash, & iPass
• Avg. Price **: NT$135+

Take one of the following buses from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei City:

Bus #	Travel Time	Frequency	Price (One-Way)	Destination
1819	55 min.	15–20 min.	NT$135–145	Taipei Main Station
1960	60–70 min.	20–40 min.	NT$145	Taipei City Hall
5203	NA	NA	NT$90	Taipei City center
1819A	70 min.	NA	NT$135–145	Taipei Main Station

I recommend taking the bus if you arrive in Taiwan very early and don’t want to wait until 5:55 AM for the first train to depart.

3. Taoyuan Metro

• How to Pay *: EasyCard, icash 2.0, HappyCash, cash, & iPass
• Avg. Price **: NT$140+

Taking the Taoyuan Metro to Taipei Main Station will balance time and money. It costs a bit more than buses, but it takes much less time to arrive in Taipei.

Trains will depart from the airport every 15 minutes. The first train departs at 5:55 AM; the last at the following times:

• Terminal 1: 12:13 AM /12:28 / 12:43 / 12:58 minutes past each hour
• Terminal 2: 12:10 AM / 12:25 / 12:40 / 12:55 minutes past each hour

You’ll see Commuter and Express trains. Express trains go directly to Taipei Main Station and take 35–38 minutes. Commuter trains will take 50 minutes and drop people off at every stop along the way.

The Express trains don’t cost more than Commuters.

4. Airplane

• Airport: Songshan International Airport

Songshan Airport is a business airport that’s inside Taipei City, unlike Taoyuan International Airport, which is in Taoyuan City. Flights to this airport are mostly for business purposes, which makes it pricier to travel here.

And it’s mostly Taiwanese airlines (e.g., China Airlines and EVA) fly here.

Footnotes:

• * You may have to visit service counters to pay by card or cash.
• ** Varies by your destination, payment method, discount, & other factors.