The capital city of Taiwan, Taipei is indeed one of the most amazing places to visit in Asia. Travelers from around the world flock to this vibrant city to relish a wholesome experience of a vacation. Despite having an impression of being a little chaotic, Taipei has everything that you can expect from a well-developed city. There are historical monuments, museums, age-old temples, beautiful gardens, vibrant night markets with amazing Taiwan food, shopping malls, an observation deck, and much more to explore and experience. To make it easy for travelers to visit and enjoy all these places from any part of the city, the Taipei Transportation system has a vast network. However, people often asked for Taipei transportation operating hours, well, it operates round the clock. Whether you want to travel early in the morning or late at night, you can do something to reach your destination, irrespective of time.
To know more about Taipei transportation, let’s look at each and every option individually. But before that, it is important to know about all the transportation cards and passes available in Taipei for tourists.
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TAIPEI TRAVEL PASSES
Easy Card
It is a payment card that can be used on all transportation options in Taipei. Not just this, you can use this card in shops as well. All you just have to do is scan the card on the machine on your way in and on your way out. The fare will be deducted automatically considering your boarding station and destination station. This is the best thing to have for travelers as it not only supports cashless and contactless transactions but it also helps you save some out of your fare. EasyCard offers 20% discounts on every single ride as compared to tokens. You can purchase the card from any convenience store such as FamilyMart or 7/11 and the cost of it is around NT$100.
Taipei Pass
Taipei transit pass is the best option if you are just looking for a card for MRT and buses. It offers unlimited rides for both MRT and the city buses. The card comes in different validities including one day, two days, three days, and five days. The card indeed provides the complete Taipei transportation safety for tourists who are planning to stay in the city for just a couple of days.
Where to Get Taipei Transport Pass?
If you are considering purchasing EasyCard or Taipei Pass, it can be purchased from the airport itself. At the airport, there are convenience stores like Hi-Life, 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and OK Mart from where you can get a Taipei travel pass for yourself. Along with that, it can also be purchased from the information counters at Taoyuan Airport MRT Stations.
What To Expect In Taipei
No, a card is meant for only one person. However, that person can be switched. But, you cannot pay for two people from a single card. Hence, you need to purchase cards considering the number of people you’re traveling with.
Does the EasyCard or Taipei Pass Expire?
There is no expiration validity for EasyCards in the city of Taipei. All you just have to do is reload your card with money. Where Taipei Pass is concerned, well, it already comes with a validity of one day, two days, three days, and five days. Besides, the card doesn’t need any recharge.
TAIPEI TRANSPORTATION
Taipei Metro (MRT)
Without a doubt, MRT is the best way to travel within the city as the vast network of Taipei Metro covers each and every nook and corner of the city. It has a total of 107 stations spread over different MRT lines. The metro also operates from Taipei airport to the city. Thus, you can prefer to travel from MRT to reach your destination once you’ve landed at the airport. Talking about MRT lines, well, there are five in total. These are:
MRT Lines in Taipei
Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red): Tamsui to Xinagshan
Wehhu Line (Brown): Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center to Taipei Zoo
Zhonghe-Xinlu Line (Orange): Huilong/Luzhou to Nanshijiao
Banana Line (Blue): Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center to Yongning
Songshan-Xindian Line (Green): Songshan to Xindian
The MRT in Taipei has both elevated and underground sections sprawl over throughout the city. The network of MRT is linked with all the tourist attractions in the city but also places to stay in Taipei. Taipei MRT fare for tourists totally depends on the station you are boarding the train and the station you are deboarding. However, you can expect your Taipei MRT ticket price ranges between NT$ 20 and NT$ 60. The services of MRT in Taipei operate from 6 in the morning to midnight. This allows tourists to even explore those amazing night markets in Taipei. All signs and announcements in metros are in both English and Chinese. Taipei MRT card for Tourist is indeed the best way to travel within the city of Taipei.
Taxis in Taipei
The most convenient and comfortable means of transportation in the city of Taipei is Taxis. There are plenty in the city and you can find them in any part of the city. Though it is evident that taxis are expensive and choosing it as your prime means to travel could raise your cost of living in Taipei. However, if compared to other developed cities in the world, taxis in Taipei are still cheaper. The fare of taxis in Taipei is NT$ 70 for the first 1.2 km, thereafter, it’s NT$ 5 for the next 0.25 km. If you are booking a taxi ride at night, expect an extra fare of NT$ 20.
Talking about transport Taipei safety, taxis are pretty safe in Taipei. You can even consider them for Taipei airport transfer as the drivers generally don’t take advantage of foreign tourists and they don’t have the set special fare for tourists. However, a thing to know here is that a majority of drivers in Taipei do not speak English. So it is better you have your address knowing in Chinese or else keep it in writing in Chinese. Also, you should know about the tipping culture in Taipei as giving taxi tips isn’t very common in the city, however, the gesture is still very appreciated. These are some of the tips and facts you should know before your trip.
Buses in Taipei
Another highly-preferred means to travel within the city of Taipei is buses. Like MRT, the city has a wide network of buses that cover every part of the city. The bus network in Taipei also covers those places that are not accessible via Taipei MRT. Like any other East Asian country, buses in Taipei are also quite confusing despite being the fact that the announcements and signs are both in English and Chinese.
Compared to MRT, the fare for bus rides are cheaper. Most of the bus rides would cost you around NT$ 15 which you can pay either on entering or on exit. The most you will be asked to pay for a bus ride is around NT$ 30. You can pay for the fare also via EasyCard or Taipei Pass.
Cycling in Taipei
Cycling is yet another popular means to travel within the city of Taipei. If you do not want to travel in any Taipei public transit, this is an ideal way to explore the city. Since cycling requires physical effort, hence, most tourists only prefer to use this means to explore the nearby region from their destination. The city isn’t the best when it comes to cycling but it is also not the worst. There are some areas that have boardwalks and best to check out on a cycling trip. The region around the Keelung River and Tamsui River is one of them. Now if you are looking to explore some part of the city on a cycling trip, then you must know that there are YouBike stations in the city located outside of MRT stations. It doesn’t matter from which station you are renting a YouBike, you can return it to any YouBike station. Talking about the rental fee, well, it totally depends on the amount of time used. You can pay the rent easily with the Taipei transport pass – EasyCard.
Driving in Taipei
Driving is always a more personal and comfortable means to travel to any destination in the world. It not only saves your time but also gives you the opportunity to reach a destination in your own way. Renting a car in Taipei is pretty easy – all you need is an international driving license. You can ask your hotel to arrange a car rental for you.
Not just a car, you can also hire a motorbike to explore the city of Taipei in your own way. Renting a motorbike is always a life savior for tourists as a bike helps you beat the traffic. It’s not just quick but also a cheap means to travel within the city of Taipei. However, I advise you to check your car or bike carefully while renting it as there should not be any damage or technical fault. Also, click some pictures during the rental procedure so that while returning, you will not fall in any kind of scam or false accusations.
Taipei Public Transport Etiquette and Safety
The public transport of any city has its own etiquette and disciplines to follow; so does Taipei. So, while getting around in Taipei in any public transport, you need to keep a few things into consideration:
- While boarding a metro, form a queue by the side of the doors so that the passengers can get off first.
- There are seats reserved for priority people in metros at the ends of cabins. These seats are reserved for elderly people, handicapped, and pregnant. You can use those seats but when you see the priority person, do offer him the seat.
- There are cars that are reserved for only women to ensure their safety. Make sure you do not enter in those cars
Things You Should Have to Use Taipei Public Transport
Surely you don’t want to get lost and ask for a way out from locals every time while using public transport in Taipei. Hence, there are some essentials that you should be carrying in Taipei on your trip to Taiwan.
Official Taipei MRT Map
This map consists of all the information that you need to travel within the city of Taipei. It has information about each station’s location, accessibility facilities, timetables, and much more. You can even find travel time and fare for a particular.
Metro Taipei Subway App
Whether you have an Android or iOS device, the metro Taipei subway is for all tourists and locals in the city. With this app, you can find all the information about Taipei MRT including the fares and travel times.
Getting From Taoyuan Airport to Taipei
Surely, you need a way for Taipei airport transfer to the hotel on your arrival. Taoyuan Airport MRT is the best way to travel from Taipei airport to city. Express and Commuter are two train services available from the airport.
Express Train
The express takes 40 minutes to reach the city. There are just two stops between the airport and the city.
Commuter Trains
There are some 12-13 stops between Taoyuan Airport and Taipei Main Station. Commuter trains take around 55 minutes to reach the Taipei Main Station.
When it comes to the Taipei airport MRT fare, both the train services have the same ticket price. Taipei airport transportation would cost you somewhere around NT$ 150. Hence, you should definitely go for the express train. The train services operate from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM. If you have landed at the airport after midnight, then there is Uber as well. A 4-seater uber ride would cost you somewhere between NT$ 800 and NT$ 1200 from Taipei airport to city center.
So, this is all about transportation in Taipei. By going through this post, you must have understood that there is nothing to be worried about how to travel within the city of Taipei as there are plenty of options. Each of the options has its own charm and benefits. Besides, the best thing about transportation in the city is that it is completely safe even when exploring Taipei in the night and there is hardly anything such as scams and frauds.
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