The Ultimate Taiwan Transportation Guide 台灣交通常見問題

Basic Taiwan Travel Tips:

• There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
• Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions, such as for street food, still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here. 
• Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiFi, such as from Klook here, so you can stay connected and don’t get lost in the city.
• If you are from a country that does not have a 90-day visa-free program with Taiwan, consider getting your visa sorted with Ivisa.com. You can also check out our immigration FAQ here. 
• Get travel insurance in case of unforeseen events. You can compare prices on Insubuy here. 
• The electrical voltage is 110V.
• Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here. 
• For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here.

Flights to Taiwan:

The only way to get to Taiwan is by airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei’s Songshan and Taoyuan Airport. 
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan’s largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It’s about an hour’s journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei. 
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here. 
Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei’s city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line. 
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.

Hotels in Taiwan:

Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Tours in Taiwan:

There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here, or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. 
Here are some of the most popular tours of Taiwan on TripAdvisor:

1. Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei
2. The 10 Tastings of Taipei With Locals: Private Street Food Tour
3. Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup
4. Full-Day Private Custom Taipei City Tour
5. Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei
6. Half-Day Muslim Friendly Tour in Taipei City
7. Private Taipei Tour for Families

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How do I travel in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train:Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount EasyCard to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as Sun Moon Lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. ​
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. ​
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Does Taiwan require a visa?/ Does Taiwan need visas?

If you are a foreign national from one of the 46 countries that have visa-free entry, then no. Otherwise, yes.

 
Does my Country’s passport have a visa-free entry into Taiwan?

Currently, there are over 46 countries that are visa-free to come to Taiwan. They are listed below according to the number of days and geographic area:
14-day visa-exempt countries: Philippines, Thailand, and Brunei
30-day visa-exempt countries: Belize, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Nauru, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Singapore
90-day visa-free countries: 40 countries
In Asia Pacific: Japan, Republic of Korea (2 countries total)
Americas: Canada, United States of America, Nicaragua, Honduras
Europe Region: United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Vatican City State, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Andorra, San Marino (36 in total)

Passport validity should be more than six months. (Formal passports, official and diplomatic passports are applicable, excluding emergency, temporary, other informal passports or travel documents). However, the validity period of a Japanese passport must be longer than three months. The validity period of a U.S. passport (including the U.S. emergency passport) should only be longer than the planned date of stay.
Persons holding emergency or temporary passports (except for nationals of the United States) should apply for a visa from my embassy or apply for a visa when arriving in Taoyuan or Kaohsiung airport. U. S. emergency passport holders are eligible for visa-free treatment.

 
Which countries are visa-free for Taiwanese nationals?

Click here for a list of visa-free countries for Taiwanese nationals.

If my country’s passport does not have visa-free entry into Taiwan, what should I do?

First, you should decide which visa you need. There are three different types of visas:

1. VISITOR VISA: is a short-term visa and stays in Taiwan for less than 6 months.
2. Resident Visa (RESIDENT VISA): It is a long-term visa, stay in Taiwan for 6 months or more.
3. Diplomatic visa (DIPLOMATIC VISA).
4. Privilege Visa (COURTESY VISA).

Required Documents:
Fill in the visa application form online at https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw. Fill in the visa application information and print the application form signature. You will also need to provide the following (as applicable):

• 2-inch 2-color photos in 6 months, background must be white.
• The original passport, valid for 6 months or more and must have a blank page.
• Proof of financial resources, such as bank savings certificates.
• Schedule
• Round-trip airfare, airfare, e-ticket, or travel agency certification.
• Relatives in Taiwan to prove (visit relatives), copy of household register, birth certificate, alien residence permit or permanent residence permit, and other relevant identity documents. (Spouse and immediate blood relatives limited).
• Invitation (Visit) The invitation unit is issued.
• Other document,s as the case may require.
• Application Procedure: The applicant shall check the required documents and visa fees to apply for a residence visa to the Immigration Department. The applicant will be required to interview if necessary.

Matters needing attention: Visa issuance as a national sovereignty, the Department has the right to refuse and need not explain the reason. Proposed visa applicants, regardless of whether or not issued a visa, visa fees paid in accordance with the law are not refundable. For a one-time visa, the visa fee is US $ 50; the multiple-entry visa fee is US $ 100; the relative processing fee is US $ 160 (currently only applies to US nationals). Any changes to this statement are subject to the latest information published by the Consular Affairs Bureau website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, please check the local Taiwan representative office in your country for the latest information relevant to your home country.

How much is a Taiwan Visa?

If you are not from a visa-free country, for a one-time entry visa, the visa fee is US $ 50; and a multiple entry visa fee is US $ 100; the relative processing fee is US $ 160; however, these fees may vary. Please check the local Taiwan representative office in your country for the latest information and fees relevant to your home country.

How much is a Taiwanese Visa in the Philippines?

For a visitor visa, currently, the Philippines has a free 14-day visa exemption. Otherwise, please check with the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines here.

 
How much for a flight to Taiwan?

From personal experience, flights to and from Taiwan are more expensive in the summer. For instance, an economy multiple-stop, round-trip flight from Taipei to Seattle can get up to $1,2000 USD or more during the summer. However, if you book during non-busy times, such as September or October, and book well in advance, you could get flights as cheap as $500+ USD for a round trip from the US. We suggest using Google Flights to find the cheapest flights with flexible dates.

 
Which airport should I use in Taiwan?

The Taipei Taoyuan Airport is the biggest airport in Taiwan, and is a 40-minute trip from Taipei. It should have the most and the cheapest flights outside of Asia. For travelling to or from other Asian countries, you may consider:
Taipei Songshan Airport:
This airport lies in the middle of Taipei and is convenient to get to and from.
Kaohsiung International Airport:
This Airport lies in the heart of Kaohsiung and is connected to the MRT, making it easy and convenient to use.
Taichung Airport:
We have not used this airport personally, but we know many people who have used this for travel within Asia.
 
If you want to travel quickly to Taiwan’s outer islands, you may consider:
Taitung, Orchid Island, and Green Island Airports:
Airports that connect Taiwan to the east coast and to Orchid Island and Green Island.
Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu Airports:
These airports connect the islands of Penghu and Kinmen to the main island of Taiwan.

 
Why is Taiwan the heart of Asia?

From a purely geographical perspective, Taiwan lies in a central location in East Asia, between China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, and Korea, and is also close to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, making it a prime spot for an Asian hub.
Taiwan is also highly influenced culturally by other East Asian nations, such as China, Japan, and Korea.

To get from Taipei Main Station to the Taoyuan International Airport, you have a few options:

1. Taxi: about 1000 NT, about 40 minutes with good traffic
2. Airport MRT: 160 NT, about 1 hour
3. HSR (high-speed rail): 145 NT 1 hour, need to take a shuttle bus from the HSR station to the airport
4. Bus: 120 NT, about 50 minutes with good traffic

For the Songshan Airport, simply take the brown line MRT to Songshan Airport station, or take a taxi.
 

How much for a Taiwan trip?

For a week of vacationing in Taiwan, you can budget for 1000 USD and probably have a few hundred dollars left over. But this depends on what you want to do, what kind of hotels you want to stay in, and what your budget is. For a one week trip for one person, plan to spend about 1500-3000 NT per night for a decent hotel (10,500-21,000 NT for a week), 100-150 NT per meal for low end restaurants (2,100-3,150 NT per week), maybe 3,000-5,000 NT on travel (depending on where you want to go), and 1,000 NT or so to buy small gifts for your family back home. This would be a grand total of 16,600-30,150 NT (553-1005 USD).

Does Taiwan have Uber?

Yes, but it’s just as expensive as a Taxi. Uber was banned and fined multiple times because their business model was deemed illegal. Uber drivers were required to have a professional driver’s license. Now Uber works with local rental car companies to keep their app going. 

 
What side of the road does Taiwan drive on?

The Right side.

 
What plug/power does Taiwan use?/What kind of adapter do I need for Taiwan?/What kind of plug do I need in Taiwan?

Taiwan uses the same power and plugs as the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. The standard voltage is 100V at 60Hz.
If you are from Europe, Australia, Asia, or Africa, you will need to bring a voltage converter. Click here to search for voltage converters on Amazon. 

What time does the Taiwan MRT close?/ When does the Taiwan MRT close?

The Taipei and Kaohsiung MRTs close at 12:00 AM midnight. They open again at 6:00 AM. 
The last train at the MRT usually leaves from 11:00PM to 12:00AM. To search for exact times for the last train, click here.

 
How do I rent a car in Taiwan?

Please read our blog about car rental in Taiwan here.
 

How do I get a local Taiwanese license?

​Check out our guide on getting a driver’s license in Taiwan here.

How do I rent a scooter in Taiwan?

Please read our blog about scooter rental in Taiwan here.

How do I rent a bicycle in Taiwan? 

Please read our blog about cycling in Taiwan here.

How do I use a Youbike in Taiwan?

To use Youbike, you will need to buy an Easy card (悠游卡) or an iPass card (一卡通). These cards can be purchased at most MRT stations, and are usually $100 NT. Once you have a card, you will need to register it at a Youbike Station using a local cell phone number. If you do not have a cell phone number in Taiwan, you can go to a local cell provider such as Chuanghua Telecom or Taiwan Mobile and show your passport to buy a SIM card.
Alternatively, you can use a credit card with a security feature to rent a Youbike (can only be used one time per card).
Fares are 10 NT for 30 minutes, or free for the first 30 minutes if your trip originates from New Taipei City.
After you have a card, you should:

1. Swipe the card next to an open bike.
2. Wait for the bike to unlock.
3. Ride to your next destination.
4. Place your bike in the Youbike stand and swipe your card to see how much money was deducted.

 
Where is Taiwan on a map?

Taiwan is in the heart of Asia!

New Taipei City (formerly Taipei County), is located in northern Taiwan, surrounding Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:

Yilan lies on the Northeast Coast of Taiwan. It is famous for its beaches, hot springs, and food. Please refer to the map below:

Taipei City is located in northern Taiwan, lying in the middle of the Taipei Basin surrounded by New Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:

Alishan lies in the mountains of South-Central Taiwan. It is a beautiful forested area with a historical train that circles the park. The quickest way to get there is through Chiayi City.

Jiufen is a city that sits on a hill in northern New Taipei City. It is famous for its breathtaking views of the north coast, architecture that supposedly was an inspiration for Spirited Away, and great food. It can be reached by bus from Taipei.

Hualien lies on Taiwan’s east-central coast. It is the gateway to Taroko National Park, which has some of the most beautiful views of Taiwan’s mountain scenery, including Taroko Gorge.

Kenting lies on the southern tip of Taiwan. It has some of the warmest weather and best beaches in Taiwan.

Have any more questions about travel and transportation in Taiwan? Please leave them in the comments below, and we might just add them to the list!
Please like, follow, and share to help everyone know that Taiwan is a great place to travel year-round!

 

Attractions in Taiwan:

There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as  Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here​. 

 

Activities in Taiwan:

Don’t forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen’ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. ​

Please like and share! If we forgot something, please tell us in the comments below!

You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  

Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. ​

You can also check out our full guide to Taiwan here.