How to Get Around Taipei

How transport works in Taipei

MRT (EasyCard) covers the city — NT$20–65 per ride, all-day pass NT$150. YouBike 2.0 shared bikes are everywhere (NT$10/30 min). Taxis are metered and cheap (NT$85 flag drop). Taoyuan Airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in 36 min for NT$150. Songshan Airport (domestic + Tokyo/Seoul/Shanghai) is inside the city — MRT one stop.

Your options compared

• MRT

  Six lines cover Taipei — clean, English-signed, NT$20–65 per ride.

• YouBike 2.0

  Shared bikes at every MRT exit — NT$10 per 30 min with EasyCard.

• Bus

  Extensive bus network complements MRT — pay with EasyCard NT$15 flat.

• Taxi

  Metered NT$85 flag drop; honest and cheap. Grab is not available; use Uber or 55688 taxi app.

Passes and tickets

EasyCard (NT$100 + credit) taps MRT + buses + YouBike + taxis + 7-Eleven. MRT Day Pass NT$150 unlimited.

Local transport tips

Stand on the RIGHT of escalators — leave the left side for walkers. No eating or drinking on the MRT (including gum and water) — enforced with NT$7,500 fines.

Arriving from the airport

• Taoyuan International (TPE)

  Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station in 36 min (Express) / 50 min (Commuter) for NT$150; Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 NT$140; taxi NT$1,100–1,400.

• Songshan (city airport) (TSA)

  MRT Brown Line one stop to Zhongshan — connects to central Taipei in 15 min.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Taipei a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.