Just landed in Taipei Taoyuan Airport and want to know the best way to get to the city? In this article we’ll show you all the options to have to get into Taipei city as quickly as possible
Taoyuan International Airport is the main airport of Taiwan and this is where most international flights will land.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Transport options from Taipei Taoyuan Airport
Taipei is located at about 40 kilometers from Taoyuan airport and there are a few ways to get from the airport to Taipei city. We’ll discuss the 3 most common ways to get there.
- Taxi (Most Expensive)
- Bus (Cheapest)
- Airport Train (Fastest)
Airport to Taipei option 1: Taxi
At airports taxis are always an option and to be fair we love the convenience of having door-to-door service. Unfortunately this comes at a price and getting to Taipei with a taxi costs about NT$1,200-NT$1,500.
Besides a taxi you can also opt for a ride share with either Uber or Bolt. The costs for these cars will be about the same as regular taxi since there is a set price.
Airport to Taipei option 2: Bus
Not many people know this but taking the bus to Taipei city is also an option. It’s the cheapest way to get there, however it’s also the longest. The bus fare costs NT$ 105 to get to the Taipei main station area and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
You can take either the Kuo-Kuang bus or the CitiAir bus and to pay for the fare you need either exact cash or an EasyCard. The EasyCard is a nationwide transport card that can be used for local public transport lines and purchases at convenience stores.
— Laurens & Laura’s Travel Tip —
Pro tip: Order an EasyCard beforehand and pick it up at the airport after you land so you can use Public Transport right away.
Airport to Taipei option number 3 : MRT
By far the easiest and most affordable option to get to Taipei city center is by taking the MRT. The purple line departs from both terminal 1 and 2, and it get you to Taipei Main station in about 35 minutes.
Where to find the MRT
From the arrivals hall you can find the MRT by going down the escalator to either B1 if you’re in terminal 1 and B2 if you arrived in terminal 2.
Price of Taipei Airport MRT
A one-way ticket costs NT$160 and the trains run every 15 minutes. This makes it one of the cheapest airport trains in the world! To pay for it you can either use the EasyCard or simply tap on with your credit/debit card or Apple Pay. Of course you can also buy a ticket with cash if needed. You can buy your ticket at one of the ticket machines right next to the station entrance.
As soon as you have your ticket or tapped on, simply follow the signs for the purple (express), get on and enjoy the ride. The train is comfortable, there is a designated space for luggage, seats come with plenty of legroom and you can even charge your phone.
Hours of operation
The first train of the day leaves at 06:00 in the morning and the last express departure from the airport is at 22:55. Beware the last slower local commuter leaves at 23:30 and takes more time than the express train. So if you arrive late you may need to book that taxi after all or arrange private transport beforehand.
Where to Stay in Taipei
After 40 minutes you’ll arrive at Taipei Main station and from there on you can connect to the metro line or head to your hotel.
We stayed at the CitizenM Taipei North Gate hotel. This hotel is located conveniently across from Taipei station and close to the popular Ximending district. The rooms are compact, yet smartly designed and from our room we had a beautiful view.
Explore Taipei
Taipei is an amazing city and whenever we have a chance to visit, we do so. There are many things to and there’s even more delicious food to try. Check-out our top 10 things to do in Taipei video below if you want to know more.
Thanks for reading and happy exploring!
Laurens is the co-founder of Yes and Explore, with a background in sports, theater, and bringing people together. He’s happiest when traveling, tasting his way through local dishes, and sharing stories that inspire your next travel adventure.