Time for Taipei soon? Lucky you! Getting from Taoyuan Taipei Airport to Taipei city by MRT train is a very easy and inexpensive trip, especially if you purchase an EasyCard at the airport or in advance.
There are several ways to get from Taipei Airport to Taipei including taxi and bus. However, the most common public transport to take from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei Main Station is the Taoyuan Airport MRT train.
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Costing just NT$160 for a one way journey between Taiwan airport to Taipei Main Station (less if you get off at an earlier station), it is one of the cheapest international airport trains in the world. Yet another reason why we love Taiwan and Taipei so much!
From fares to train times plus how to purchase an airport EasyCard, here is our guide to getting Taoyuan Taipei Airport to Taipei city with photos.
This article was originally published on 29 July 2024.
You might like – A step-by-step guide to buying and topping up a Taiwan EasyCard >
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, KK Day or Klook.
Taiwan Airport to Taipei City – main forms of transport
There are several ways to get to Taipei from Taipei Airport. Below are the 2024 fares and estimated travel duration.
| Transport from Taipei Airport | Duration to city | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Taoyuan Airport MRT | 35 to 50 minutes – the quickest way to get to Taipei City Centre (quicker if you take an express train with limited stops) | NT$160 |
| Taiwan Passenger Bus | Around 1 to 1.5 hours | NT$100 to NT$145 |
| Taipei Airport Taxi | 45 to 60 minutes depending on the traffic | NT$1,200 to NT$1,600 |
If you are arriving at Taiwan Taoyuan Airport during normal hours (between 6am and 10.30pm) and don’t have lots of luggage or are not part of a big group, the best way to from Taipei Airport to Taipei city is to take the Taoyuan Airport MRT.
If you have lots of luggage or are part of a big group where you can split the costs, then taking a Taiwan airport taxi would be a more convenient option. You will get door to door service but the taxi fare will be around 10 times more than the Taoyuan Airport MRT fare.
The Taiwan airport bus is convenient if you cannot take the MRT (if you arrive after 11pm or before 6am). The Taiwan airport buses run 24 hours a day.
Alternatively, you can book a private transfer to your hotel in advance with Viator or Klook.
Taiwanderers Tip
Be sure to use Google Maps or the official Go! Taipei Metro app to see which is the quickest and best route for you when traveling in Taipei.
You might like – First time visitors guide to visiting Taipei >
Taking the Taoyuan Airport MRT train – a step-by-step guide
So you’ve arrived in Taipei at Taoyuan International Airport after a potentially very long flight. First things first, if your inflight meal wasn’t so good, there are a few vending machines and convenience stores in the arrivals area if you are peckish or thirsty.
Money exchange and ATMS dispensing Taiwan $NT are also available in the arrivals hall. Note you can use your debit / credit card to buy a topped up EasyCard in B1 one floor below.
If you need to use a money exchange in Taiwan, the rates in the city are usually WAY better than at Taipei airport.
Once you’ve cleared customs and are through the main welcome gates, you’ll see Taiwan Tourism information counters if you need any travel advice or literature (their maps and area guides are really good and nicely designed).
Taiwanderers Tip
If you are flying into Taipei between now and June 2025, overseas visitors can enter the Taiwan Tourism Lucky Land Lottery for free!
Lots of prizes are available from EasyCards to free hotel stays, with some prizes worth up to NT$5,000. We recently won NT$10k in vouchers between us! Read our guide to the Taiwan Lucky Land prize draw here with step by step photos >
You might like – Our guide to Zhongshan, Taipei’s trendiest district >
First and last train from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station
The first train from Taipei Airport leaves Terminal 2 at 5.57am and Terminal 1 at 5.59am – this is also handily an express train.
Terminal 2 is the first stop (stop A13), and then it passes through Terminal 1 (stop A12).
The last train from Taipei Airport terminal 2 to Taipei City leaves at 11.33pm, and from Taipei airport terminal 1 at 11.36pm.
First and last train from Taipei Main Station to Taipei Airport
The first train from Taipei Main Station to Taipei Taoyuan Airport (stop A1) leaves at 6.00am.
The last train from Taipei Main Station to Taipei Taoyuan Airport departs at 11pm.
February 2025 update – there is currently a three month trial running from February to April whereby the first train to depart Taipei Main Station for Taoyuan airport leaves at 5:30am with Taipei Main Station A1 opening at 5am. This also means Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 2 stations will open at 5:30am.
Trains depart to and from Taipei Airport to Taipei Main Station approximately every 7 to 8 minutes, alternating between the quicker express trains and slightly slower commuter trains.
Times are subject to change – check the official Taoyuan Metro website for details >
All Taoyuan Metro times and prices are correct as of February 2025.
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Taipei Airport Express Trains vs Commuter Trains
There are two types of trains from Taipei Airport to Taipei City:
- The quicker express trains (purple) which take about 35 minutes and stop at a few stations only
- The longer duration commuter trains (blue) which take around 50 minutes and stop at all stations
The price of both trains is the same – NT$160 one way when using an EasyCard.
If you do not wish to purchase an EasyCard, you can buy a single trip ticket token for NT$160 from the purple coloured machine or at the information counter.
How to find the Taoyuan MRT train station at Taipei Airport
Once through arrivals at either terminal 1 or terminal 2, follow the directions to Taoyuan MRT train Stations, both of which are located on the basement level (B1) below the main arrivals hall.
Escalators and lifts are available to the basement but barriers are in place to ensure you do not take luggage trolleys down as well.
Incidentally, if you have big luggage, there is an In Town luggage check in service at Taipei Main Station (as well as a Tax Refund Center and Lost and Found).
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Buying an EasyCard at Taipei Airport
It is easy and very quick to buy a Taiwan EasyCard in advance before your trip via Klook – this is also great if you don’t want the hassle of getting money out before you arrive in Taipei or are unsure as to whether your debit or credit card will work in Taiwan.
Book your Taiwan EasyCard in advance here >
However, you can also purchase EasyCards at Taoyuan International Taipei Airport from a bank of Taipei transport blue coloured vending machines in B1 (right next to the entry gates for Taoyuan MRT station) or via a staffed ticket desk.
We bought our tickets from the staff ticket desk because we wanted to break our big Taiwan Dollar notes to get some smaller denomination banknotes PLUS we thought it’d be nice to choose our own EasyCard designs.
EasyCards in Taiwan – Costs & Designs
EasyCards cost upwards of NT$100, but they can be used and topped up regularly throughout your Taiwan trip and on repeat visits.
The straight forward credit card style cards in Taiwan cost NT$100 (non refundable) but there are special and cute designs that cost more (usually between NT$200 and NT$450).
One of our most extravagant purchases was a FoodPanda moped helmet iCash card from a 7-Eleven in Kaohsiung, costing us NT$400 – and that didn’t include any credit either!
EasyCards come in some different designs and styles – we opted for Doraemon EasyCards which are adorable (and a cool Taipei souvenir to take home as well).
We became obsessed during our time in Taiwan finding cool EasyCard and Taiwan travel card designs from tiny milk containers and miniature fried chicken to cute characters like Bugcat Capoo and Hello Kitty.
Check out our guide to the 30 coolest and cute EasyCard designs in Taiwan here >
What are EasyCard, iPass and iCash cards in Taiwan?
EasyCard, iPass and iCash cards in Taiwan are cashless payment systems and travel cards that can be used across all of Taiwan’s public transport networks – plus in convenience stores, vending machines, parking, taxis and many more.
Prepaid EasyCards in Taiwan and cash cards have been so well adopted since their introduction in 2010, that now over 90% of MRT journeys in Taipei are made using a cash card (plus over 70% of car parking payments). Taiwan is well ahead of the world in terms of cashless payments.
Taiwan travel cards and EasyCards are simple to buy, top up and keep a track on the balance, making these a popular way to pay for public transport for both Taiwanese and travelers in Taiwan.
You might like – Guide to the Bugcat Capoo House & Shop + Foam Cat Cafe in Taichung >
Where can you buy EasyCards, iPass and iCash cards in Taiwan?
Most convenience stores, train, bus and MRT stations sell EasyCards.
You can buy EasyCards at dedicated vending machines at airports, train stations and busy public places (plus iPass in selected shops and transport hubs – mostly in southern Taiwan).
You can purchase iCash cards at all 7-Eleven convenience stores and their IbonMart kiosk, metro stations and some other selected retailers.
EasyCards have no expiration date, however if the card has not been used for 2 years it will need to be reactivated by adding some credit to it.
You might like – 14 reasons why Taiwan 7-Eleven is the best 7-Eleven in the world >
Arriving at Taipei Main Station
Once you’ve arrived at Taipei Main Station from Taipei Airport, you can take the Taipei Metro to your Taipei Hotel.
The walk from where the Taoyuan MRT drops you off from the airport to the Metro Taipei stations is about five minutes via several escalators.
Check Taipei hotel and accommodation availability with agoda.com or booking.com.
Found this Taipei airport train transport guide article helpful?
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