Updated: 2026-07-02 | For real-time information, always refer to official announcements.

Landing at Taoyuan Airport for the first time and standing in the arrivals hall dragging your luggage, the only thing you really need to solve first is a single question: how do I get into Taipei City? Below we lay out the three routes—MRT, bus, and taxi—side by side to help you decide before you've even collected your bags.

Taoyuan Airport (TPE) is about 40 kilometers from central Taipei, and there are three main ways into the city: the Airport MRT, airport buses, and taxis (including pre-booked online airport transfers). Each has its own sweet spot—first look at the overall differences, then read on to pick the one that suits you best. Actual fares, operating hours, and last-train times are all subject to each operator's official announcements, so don't go by memory.

Three ways into the city, and how to pick the one that suits you best

For most independent travelers, the Airport MRT (Taoyuan Metro Airport Line, purple line) is usually the most hassle-free choice: no traffic jams, predictable timing, and it goes straight into Taipei Main Station (A1). From the airport (A12 Terminal 1 / A13 Terminal 2) to Taipei Main Station, the standard adult one-way fare is NT$160, though a long-running discount brings the actual charge to around NT$150. The Express train (blue carriages) reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35–39 minutes; the Commuter train (blue-and-white carriages) stops at every station, stretching the time to around 50 minutes. The fares are the same for both, so if you're pressed for time, look for the Express train. The MRT roughly operates from early morning until about 11 pm, with trains about every 15 minutes; flights arriving late at night or in the early morning may well find the last train has already gone, so please refer to the Taoyuan Metro official timetable for first/last trains and intervals. Payment is simple too: tap in with an EasyCard, iPASS, or other stored-value card, or buy a single-journey token from the ticket machine; buying an EasyCard as soon as you land makes riding the MRT, buses, and shopping at convenience stores in Taipei much more convenient afterward. To learn more about transport cards across Taiwan, see ourTransport Guide.

If your flight arrives in the middle of the night or early morning, right when the MRT isn't running, airport buses become the main option. Take the most popular Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport 1819 route (Airport ↔ Taipei Main Station) as an example: this route runs almost 24 hours, with departures even in the dead of night, a one-way fare of around NT$140, and a journey of about 55 minutes depending on freeway traffic. Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have clearly marked bus ticket counters and waiting areas just outside the arrivals level; just follow the “Bus” signs to find them. On the Taipei end, most buses stop around the Taipei Bus Station near Taipei Main Station, from where transferring to the Taipei MRT is quite convenient. When you have a lot of luggage, are traveling as a family (roomy seats, a luggage compartment), and aren't rushing over those extra dozen or so minutes, the bus is easier than dragging luggage through MRT transfers; the downside is that freeway traffic makes the timing harder to predict, so it's more reassuring to allow a generous buffer.

For those traveling with elderly relatives, children, or lots of luggage, or who just want to collapse back at the hotel late at night, a taxi or pre-booked airport transfer is the most effortless. Outside the Taoyuan Airport arrivals hall there are queued taxis, charged by meter with an added airport service fee; the actual fare into central Taipei generally falls between NT$1,100 and NT$1,600, varying by destination, traffic, and time of day, with possible surcharges at night. Another option is the online pre-booked “airport transfer” (private car), usually at a fixed price with the driver holding a name sign—ideal for travelers wary of language barriers or on-the-spot price haggling. When traveling in a group, splitting the fare evenly can sometimes make it not too expensive, and it saves you the effort of dragging luggage through transfers. To compare prices and book transfers or accommodation, see:

Check airport transfers and Taipei accommodation on Trip.com

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No matter which one you end up choosing, there are two things best sorted out before you land. First is internet: ride-hailing, checking the MRT, and finding your hotel all rely on the internet, so rather than queuing to buy a card at the airport, many travelers buy an eSIM in advance and have a signal the moment they turn on their phone after landing. For more on how to do this, see our eSIM & Internetcategory.

Order a Taiwan data eSIM with Holafly

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Second is tickets: Airport MRT tickets, Taipei one-day passes, attraction admission tickets, and more can also be bought online in advance. We're still confirming the partner link for local Taiwan tickets (Klook TW); for now you can use KKday, or refer toTaipeiand arrange your itinerary using the practical information in the category.

Find Taipei tickets and experiences on KKday

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cheapest way to get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei?

Per person, both the airport bus (around NT$140) and the Airport MRT (around NT$150) are great value, with little difference between them. If you're traveling in a group, splitting the taxi fare evenly can sometimes make it not too expensive, and it saves you the effort of dragging luggage through transfers. Actual fares are subject to official announcements.

Is there still transport into Taipei if I arrive late at night or in the early morning?

The Airport MRT usually stops running around 11 pm, so late at night you'll mostly have to rely on the nearly 24-hour airport buses (such as Kuo-Kuang 1819), or take a taxi/pre-booked transfer. For actual last-train times, please refer to official announcements.

What's the difference between the Airport MRT Express and Commuter trains?

The Express train (blue carriages) stops only at a few major stations and reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35–39 minutes; the Commuter train stops at every station and takes longer (about 50 minutes). The fares are the same, so if you're pressed for time, look for the Express train.

Can I use an EasyCard on the Airport MRT? Is the MRT suitable when I have a lot of luggage?

Yes—the Airport MRT supports the EasyCard, iPASS, and other stored-value cards, and you can also buy a single-journey token; the same EasyCard can then keep being used on the Taipei MRT and buses afterward. MRT carriages have space for luggage, but if you really have a lot of luggage and need to transfer at Taipei Main Station, a bus (with a luggage compartment) or a taxi/transfer will be easier.