Getting Around Taipei: MRT, Buses & Transfers

TL;DR

The Taipei MRT is the backbone of the city, covering most central districts, suburbs, and neighbourhoods from around 06:00 to midnight. Get an EasyCard on arrival.
From Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), the Airport MRT Express reaches Taipei Main Station in 35–39 minutes for NT$160 — the fastest and cheapest option for most travellers.
The Airport MRT stops running around 23:30. Late-night arrivals need to plan for airport buses (Route 1960 runs until around 01:00) or a taxi.
City buses fill the gaps the MRT misses, including hill areas like Yangmingshan. EasyCard works on both, simplifying transfers significantly.
For context on which districts you'll be navigating between, the 3-day Taipei itinerary maps out the key areas clearly.

The Taipei MRT: Your Primary Way Around the City

Wide view of a busy Taipei MRT underground station with escalators, platform signage, and passengers waiting for trains. — Photo Kenneth Surillo

The Taipei Metro (officially TRTC, or Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation) is the most reliable, affordable, and straightforward way to get around Taipei. The network spans central Taipei and extends into adjacent New Taipei City, reaching districts like Tamsui to the north, Beitou and its hot spring area to the northwest, and Wenshan in the south. It connects most places visitors actually want to go, including Taipei 101, Taipei Main Station, Shilin, and Zhongshan.

Fares are distance-based and start at around NT$20–25 for short hops when using a stored-value card like EasyCard or iPASS. Single-journey tokens cost slightly more. For comparison, a cross-city ride from Tamsui to Taipei 101 (Taipei City Hall station) runs around NT$60–65. Operating hours are roughly 06:00 to midnight, though first and last trains vary by line and station, so check the official Taipei Metro site if you're catching an early or late connection. You can explore the Xinyi district or reach the night markets in Shilin entirely via MRT — no taxi required.

💡 Local tip

Pick up an EasyCard at any MRT station service centre or 7-Eleven immediately after landing. The card costs NT$100 (non-refundable card fee) and you can load any amount on it. It works on the MRT, city buses, the Maokong Gondola, and even some convenience stores, making it the single most useful item in your wallet for the entire trip.

Red Line (Danshui-Xinyi) Runs from Tamsui in the far north through central Taipei down to Xiangshan near Elephant Mountain. Passes Zhongshan, Taipei Main Station, and Taipei 101/World Trade Centre.
Blue Line (Bannan) Runs east-west across the city through Zhongxiao East Road, connecting Banqiao in New Taipei City with Nangang in the east. Essential for the Xinyi and Daan areas.
Green Line (Songshan-Xindian) Serves Ximen, Guting, and the Daan Forest Park area. Connects Songshan in the northeast to Xindian in the south.
Orange Line (Zhonghe-Xinlu) Covers areas south and southeast of the city centre, useful for accessing Yonghe and Zhonghe in New Taipei.
Brown Line (Wenhu) Taipei's elevated line, running from Muzha in the south through Neihu to the airport area near Songshan. Useful for Taipei Arena and Neihu tech district.

Peak commuter hours run roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:30. Trains on the main lines run every 3–5 minutes during these windows, but carriages near Taipei Main Station get genuinely packed. If you're carrying luggage, avoid travelling on MRT lines during rush hour if you can help it. Typhoon season (June to October) occasionally causes temporary service disruptions, and announcements are posted at station entrances and on the official Taipei Metro app.

Getting from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City Centre

Exterior view of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport terminal building with parking and transport lanes in front, under a clear blue sky. — Photo KCS (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the main international gateway into Taiwan and sits about 40 km west of central Taipei. Most visitors flying in internationally will land here, not at the smaller Songshan Airport (TSA) inside the city. There are four main ways to make the journey into the city: the Airport MRT, airport buses, taxis, and private transfers.

The Taoyuan Airport MRT is the clearest recommendation for the majority of travellers. The Express service (purple A-line trains) runs between the airport terminals and Taipei Main Station in 35–39 minutes, stopping at A1, A3, A8, A12, and A13. The Commuter service (blue trains) takes 50–60 minutes with additional stops but costs the same: NT$160 for adults. Children under 6 travel free with a fare-paying adult. The first Express departure from Taipei Main Station is around 05:30–05:58 and the last service is around 23:30–23:37; verify the current timetable on the Taoyuan Metro official site before travel. EasyCard is accepted, which means no queuing at ticket machines on arrival.

⚠️ What to skip

The Airport MRT does not run 24 hours. If your flight lands after midnight, you will not be able to take the MRT into the city. Plan for a taxi (around NT$1,000–1,500 to central Taipei depending on traffic) or take an airport bus like Route 1960 which runs until approximately 01:00.

Airport buses are worth knowing as a backup. Route 1960 (CitiAir Bus) runs from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City Hall Bus Station via major stops along Zhongxiao East Road, roughly every 30 minutes from around 05:50 to 01:00. Kuo-Kuang Bus Route 1819 connects to Taipei Main Station with 24-hour service. Fares on these routes are typically NT$125–145 for Route 1960 and around NT$135 for Route 1819. Buses are slower than the Airport MRT in good traffic, and significantly slower during congestion on National Freeway 1, but they reach a wider range of drop-off points and are the only public transport option for very late arrivals.

Airport MRT Express NT$160, 35–39 minutes to Taipei Main Station. Best option for most travellers. First/last trains around 05:30 and 23:30.
Airport MRT Commuter NT$160, 50–60 minutes with more stops. Same price as Express — useful if your accommodation is near an intermediate station.
Bus Route 1960 (CitiAir) NT$125–145, drops at Taipei City Hall area. Runs until ~01:00 — best fallback for late arrivals needing east-side Taipei access.
Bus Route 1819 (Kuo-Kuang) NT$125–135, terminates at Taipei Main Station. Frequent departures, good for travellers in the central and west districts.
Taxi or Ride-Hailing Around NT$1,000–1,500+ to central Taipei depending on destination and traffic. Uber operates in Taiwan. Best for late nights or when travelling in a group with luggage.

ℹ️ Good to know

A common misconception: the Airport MRT Express is NOT more expensive than the Commuter service. Both cost NT$160 to Taipei Main Station. There is no reason to take the Commuter unless your destination is an intermediate stop on that line.

City Buses: Filling the Gaps the MRT Doesn't Cover

Taipei city street scene at sunset with a city bus, scooters, and buildings under an overpass in an urban setting. — Photo Jimmy Liao

Taipei's city bus network is extensive and complements the MRT effectively, particularly for reaching areas that the metro doesn't serve directly. If you're planning to visit Yangmingshan National Park or the Maokong gondola base station, a bus will be part of the equation. The Yangmingshan bus network is especially important for hikers and hot spring visitors.

Bus fares within Taipei are typically NT$15 per fare zone when paying by EasyCard or iPASS. Most rides within the central city are one or two zones. The tap-on, tap-off system (boarding and alighting) is essential: always tap your card when you board and tap again when you exit, or the system will charge you the maximum fare. If you forget to tap off, you'll be overcharged and will need to visit a station service desk to correct it. Most routes operate from early morning to around 23:00, with select night bus routes running later.

Schedules and real-time arrival information are available through the Taipei eBus system online and via several mobile apps. For day trips, the bus network also connects Taipei to Tamsui and Beitou beyond the MRT terminus. For navigating unfamiliar routes, Google Maps works reliably for Taipei bus directions and shows real-time arrivals at most stops.

EasyCard and Payment: What You Actually Need to Know

The EasyCard (悠遊卡) is a rechargeable contactless IC card that works across virtually every form of public transport in Taipei and New Taipei City: MRT, city buses, the Maokong Gondola, Taiwan Railways (TRA) local services, the Airport MRT, and several intercity bus routes. It also functions as a payment card at convenience stores, some restaurants, and many vending machines. An alternative is the iPASS card, which has broadly similar functionality. For most visitors, the EasyCard is the default recommendation simply because it's more widely available and familiar to station staff.

Cards are sold at MRT service centres, 7-Elevens, and FamilyMart stores. The card costs NT$100 as a non-refundable card fee and you load credit separately. You can top up at MRT stations, convenience stores, and some ATMs. For a 3–7 day trip with moderate transit use, loading NT$500–800 upfront is a reasonable starting point. There is a 10% discount on MRT fares when using EasyCard compared to single-journey tokens, which adds up over a multi-day visit.

✨ Pro tip

If you're staying longer or plan to use public transport heavily, check whether your bank's contactless Visa or Mastercard works on Taipei MRT gates — since 2023, select foreign credit cards have been accepted on MRT entry gates. However, coverage is not universal across all gate types, and the EasyCard remains the most reliable option for all modes including buses.

Taxis, Uber, and When Driving Makes Sense

Multiple yellow taxis wait at a busy Taipei crosswalk as pedestrians cross, surrounded by modern office buildings and city lights at dusk. — Photo Jimmy Liao

Taxis in Taipei are metered, generally honest, and start at around NT$85 for the first 1.25 km, with additional increments after that. They're a practical option for short hops when the MRT would require two or three transfers, or for travel late at night when buses thin out. Licensed taxis in Taipei are yellow. Drivers rarely speak English, so having your destination written in Chinese characters (or on a map) makes a significant difference.

Uber operates in Taiwan and is often more convenient for visitors because you can input destinations in English and see the fare estimate upfront. Line Taxi and 55688 are local app-based taxi services if you want a Mandarin-language alternative. For most urban exploration, the MRT and buses will be cheaper and often faster during peak hours. Renting a scooter or car is possible but not recommended for most visitors: traffic in central Taipei is dense, parking is limited, and the MRT genuinely reaches most of the places covered in a typical Taipei weekend itinerary.

Practical Tips for Navigating Taipei's Transport Network

A few habits make getting around Taipei significantly smoother. First, download the official Taipei Metro app or use Google Maps before you arrive — both handle route-planning well and Google Maps shows MRT and bus options simultaneously. Second, check the Taipei airport guide before flying in to understand arrival procedures at both Taoyuan (TPE) and Songshan (TSA). Third, if you're planning day trips outside the city, note that Taiwan Railways (TRA) and the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) connect from Taipei Main Station and Nangang Station respectively — these are separate ticketing systems from the MRT.

Stand firmly on MRT escalators and follow current safety signage — recent campaigns encourage standing on both sides rather than keeping the left strictly for walking.
Eating and drinking on the MRT is prohibited and the fine is NT$1,500–7,500. This includes gum and water bottles.
Priority seats are taken seriously in Taiwan — vacate them for elderly, pregnant, or mobility-impaired passengers.
MRT carriages are air-conditioned to a degree that can feel cold — bring a light layer, particularly on longer rides.
Bus stop screens and announcements are in Mandarin and sometimes English; look for the route number on the front of the bus and confirm via app.
Typhoon warnings result in potential service suspensions. If Typhoon Alert Level 3 or above is issued for Taipei, expect MRT and bus schedules to be affected.

For travellers combining Taipei with regional excursions, note that the Taoyuan Airport MRT connects to the HSR at Taoyuan Station, making it possible to link an international arrival directly into a high-speed rail journey southward. If you're planning to explore beyond the city, the day trips from Taipei guide covers transport logistics for destinations like Jiufen, Pingxi, and Wulai in detail.

FAQ

What is the best way to get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei city centre?

The Taoyuan Airport MRT Express is the fastest and most cost-effective option for most travellers — NT$160, around 35–39 minutes to Taipei Main Station. If you arrive after midnight when the MRT has stopped running, take an airport bus (Route 1960 runs until approximately 01:00) or a taxi. Taxis from TPE to central Taipei typically cost around NT$1,000–1,500 depending on destination and traffic.

Do I need a Taipei MRT map to navigate the system?

The MRT map is useful for trip planning but not essential once you're on the ground — every station has large, clearly labelled maps in English, and Google Maps handles MRT routing reliably. You can download the official Taipei Metro map from the TRTC website before your trip. Lines are colour-coded and numbered, and all stations announce stops in Mandarin and English.

Does the Taipei MRT run 24 hours?

No. The Taipei Metro operates from approximately 06:00 to midnight, with exact first and last trains varying by line and station. For late-night travel, city night buses cover some routes, and taxis and Uber are available around the clock. The Airport MRT also stops around 23:30, so this is an important consideration for late-night arrivals at Taoyuan.

Can I use a contactless credit card on Taipei MRT and buses?

EasyCard and iPASS stored-value cards are the universal option and work on all modes. Some Taipei MRT gates have accepted foreign contactless Visa and Mastercard since 2023, but coverage is inconsistent across gate types and the system does not extend reliably to city buses or other modes. For hassle-free travel across all transport, get an EasyCard at the airport or any 7-Eleven.

How do I get around Taipei if I'm visiting Yangmingshan or the hot springs at Beitou?

For Beitou, take the MRT Red Line to Xinbeitou Station, which puts you right in the hot spring district. For Yangmingshan National Park, take the MRT to Jiantan Station and then transfer to a shuttle bus (Route S15 or S17 depending on your destination within the park). These routes are seasonal and frequency changes on weekends, so check Taipei eBus for current schedules before heading out.