Transport from the airport in Taiwan
Taoyuan: purple Airport MRT express to Taipei Main in 35–37 min for 160 NTD, 24-hour Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 for 140 NTD, metered yellow taxis 1,000–1,500 NTD. Songshan sits on the brown metro line (20–30 NTD); Kaohsiung airport is on the red MRT (30–35 NTD, 50 NTD international taxi surcharge).
- From Taoyuan the Airport MRT express reaches Taipei Main Station in 35 to 37 minutes for 160 NTD, every 15 minutes, from platforms two levels below arrivals - follow the purple signs.
- The last express leaves at 22:55 from T2 and 22:58 from T1, and the last commuter train at 23:33 and 23:37, so a later landing means the bus or a taxi.
- Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 runs 24 hours to Taipei Main Station for 140 NTD, roughly 50 to 60 minutes, with 20 to 30 minute gaps overnight - the night arrival's answer.
- Official yellow taxis run strictly on the meter, 1,000 to 1,500 NTD into central Taipei; firmly decline anyone approaching you inside the terminal with a flat rate.
- Songshan and Kaohsiung airports sit on the metro - 20 to 30 NTD in Taipei, 30 to 35 NTD to central Kaohsiung in 16 minutes - but both close after midnight.
Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
The airport lies about 40 km west of Taipei with four main ways into the centre:
- Taoyuan Airport MRT: the fastest and most reliable transport. Platforms are in the basements of both terminals, two levels below arrivals (follow the purple signs).
- Express trains (purple): link the airport with Taipei Main Station in 35 minutes (from T1) / 37 minutes (from T2), every 15 minutes, stopping at only five key stations.
- Commuter trains (blue): stop everywhere; Taipei Main Station takes 49–53 minutes.
- Operating hours: the first express towards Taipei leaves at 05:57 (T2) and 05:59 (T1). The last express departs 22:55 (T2) / 22:58 (T1); the last commuter train 23:33 (T2) / 23:37 (T1).
- Price: a single to Taipei Main Station costs 160 NTD. Pay by tapping an EasyCard/iPASS contactless card at the gate or buy a single-ride plastic token from the machines before entry.
- Airport buses (Limousine Bus): the primary choice for night arrivals after the MRT closes. The main line is route 1819 run by Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport between the airport and Taipei Main Station.
- Hours and frequency: buses run 24 hours a day; night intervals are 20–30 minutes.
- Time and price: the trip takes roughly 50–60 minutes; a single costs 140 NTD. Buy tickets at the bus company counters in the arrivals hall.
- Official airport taxis: available 24/7 right outside the arrivals halls of both terminals. All vehicles are licensed, yellow, and run strictly on the meter.
- Time and price: central Taipei takes 40–60 minutes depending on traffic, costing 1,000 to 1,500 NTD. Cash and cards accepted.
- Warning: firmly decline unofficial drivers approaching travelers inside the terminal with inflated flat rates.
- Ride-hailing (Uber / tripool): Uber works at the airport without restrictions. Pickup happens at specific marked zones outside the terminals, precisely indicated by the app. For long transfers or groups, pre-booking a private car via tripool guarantees a fixed price upfront.
Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA)
Songshan Airport sits directly in Taipei's urban fabric (northern Songshan district) with extremely fast connections:
- Metro (MRT): the "Songshan Airport" station (terminus of the brown Wenhu Line) connects directly to the terminal basement.
- Time and transfers: the key Zhongxiao Fuxing interchange takes just 7 minutes. Transfer to the red line (towards Taipei 101) via Daan station. Any central part of Taipei is within 20 minutes.
- Hours: daily 06:00–24:00.
- Price: standard EasyCard fares run 20 to 30 NTD.
- City taxis: ranks are directly outside the terminal. Given the location, any central Taipei hotel is 15–25 minutes away. Fares run 200 to 300 NTD, strictly by meter.
Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH)
The southern international airport plugs directly into Kaohsiung's modern infrastructure:
- Metro (Kaohsiung MRT - red line): the "Kaohsiung International Airport" station (R4) is integrated into the airport complex. Exit 2 leads to the domestic terminal, exit 6 to the international terminal.
- Time: the central Formosa Boulevard interchange (R10) takes exactly 16 minutes; trains run every 4–8 minutes.
- Hours: 06:00–24:00.
- Price: the city centre costs 30 to 35 NTD. Machines take coins and notes and dispense a plastic token; EasyCard/iPASS fully accepted.
- Official taxis: ranks are on the 1st floor at the arrivals exits of both terminals (gate 1 at the international one). Metered.
- Airport surcharge: departures from the international terminal carry a statutory 50 NTD surcharge added to the metered fare; no surcharge at the domestic terminal.
- Prices and times: Formosa Boulevard takes 20–30 minutes for 250 to 300 NTD. The northern Zuoying station (HSR high-speed rail transfer) costs 350–400 NTD.
Recommendations by traveler type
- Solo and budget travelers: the clear choice is the Airport MRT (Taoyuan) or city metro (Songshan, Kaohsiung) - lowest price, fully predictable timing and no traffic jams. A solo traveler landing at Taoyuan at night (00:00–05:30) should take the 24-hour Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 for 140 NTD.
- Families and travelers with bulky luggage: use an official airport taxi or a pre-booked private transfer (e.g. tripool). It avoids navigating sprawling interchanges (especially Taipei Main Station, which is extremely confusing for newcomers). At Kaohsiung a taxi is highly cost-effective - split among 3–4 people it nearly matches the metro fare.
- Night arrival (after midnight): at Taoyuan head to the ground-floor bus counters for the 24-hour line 1819, or take an official yellow taxi. At Songshan and Kaohsiung the metro is closed after midnight, so the only legal options are an airport taxi or ride-hailing (Uber).
Recommendations by traveler type
The airport MRT or city metro for solo travellers; between 00:00 and 05:30 at Taoyuan the 24-hour Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 costs NTD 140. Families with luggage do better in an official airport taxi than navigating Taipei Main Station, which is genuinely confusing. Everything runs on an EasyCard or iPASS.
- Solo and budget travellers should take the metro: lowest price, predictable timing and no traffic jams, whether that is the Taoyuan express or the city lines at Songshan and Kaohsiung.
- Landing at Taoyuan between 00:00 and 05:30, take the 24-hour Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 for 140 NTD from the ground-floor ticket counters.
- Families and anyone with bulky luggage should book a taxi or private transfer, which avoids navigating Taipei Main Station - extremely confusing for newcomers.
- At Kaohsiung a taxi split between 3 or 4 people is close to the metro fare, so it is the obvious choice for a group.
- After midnight the metro is closed at Songshan and Kaohsiung, leaving an airport taxi or Uber as the only legal options.
- Solo travelers and budget travelers: The clear choice is the express MRT (Taoyuan) or city metro (Songshan, Kaohsiung). It offers the lowest price, fully predictable travel times, and avoids traffic jams. If a solo traveler lands at Taoyuan Airport at night (00:00–05:30), the best option is the 24-hour Kuo-Kuang bus line 1819 for 140 NTD.
- Families with children and travelers with bulky luggage: An official airport taxi or a pre-booked private transfer (e.g. tripool) is recommended. This removes the need to navigate large transfer hubs (especially Taipei Main Station, which is extremely confusing for newcomers). At Kaohsiung Airport, a taxi is highly cost-effective, since the fare split between 3–4 people is close to the metro fare.
- Night arrivals (after midnight): At Taoyuan Airport, head to the bus ticket counters on the ground floor and take the 24-hour line 1819, or take an official yellow taxi. At Songshan and Kaohsiung airports the metro closes after midnight, so the only legal option is an airport taxi or ride-hailing (Uber).
Comments
No comments yet. Share the first one.
Share a tip
Sign in to continue.