From the moment you book your flight to Taoyuan International Airport (also known as Taipei Airport or TPE), you’ll probably start wondering “How can I get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei”?
Taoyuan Airport is actually located in Taoyuan City, about 30 kilometers west of Taipei Main Station in the Taipei City center. Taipei Main Station is the main transportation hub of the city, so that’s where you’ll be going first if you go by public transportation.
Luckily, in 2017 Taoyuan launched the Taoyuan Airport MRT, making travel from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station and Taipei Main Station back to Taoyuan Airport faster and easier. Below I’ll cover all your options, according to your budget and arrival/departure time.
At the end, I’ll also give some tips about lockers, self-check in, and luggage drop for flights at Taipei Main Station.
If you’re staying in Ximending, see my similar guide to traveling from Taoyuan Airport to Ximending.
How to Get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station
Your main options for traveling from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei Main Station are by taxi/private vehicle, by Airport MRT, or by Airport bus.
Here’s a quick summary. Scroll down to read more details about eachy one.
Klook Private Transfer
✔️ Fastest
✔️ Easiest
✔️ Cheaper than taxi
✔️ Directly to Ximending
🚫 More $ than MRT or bus
Airport MRT
✔️ Easy, convenient
✔️ Cheap
✔️ Can swipe EasyCard
🚫 Need to transfer at Taipei Main Station
🚫 Not 24 hours
Airport Bus
✔️ Cheapest
✔️ WiFi and A/C
✔️ 24 hours
🚫 Need to transfer at Taipei Main Station
🚫 Longer walk to Ximending
From Taipei Main Station, you’ll be able to walk, transfer to the Taipei City MRT, or take a taxi to destinations in the city.
Don’t confuse Taoyuan Airport with Songshan Airport, a smaller airport in the Taipei City center, which has mostly domestic flights and a few international ones. That one has its own Taipei MRT stop, so it is well connected to the city. (I use this site to find the cheapest flights to Taiwan!)
Also read my guide to which budget airlines fly to Taoyuan and Songshan airports!
By Taxi or Private Vehicle
Taking a taxi or private vehicle is the easiest but most expensive way to get from Taoyuan Airport to anywhere in Taipei. It usually takes about one hour, but that will depend on the time of day and where in Taipei your hotel is.
If you’re staying somewhere around Taipei Main Station or Ximending, riding the Airport MRT could actually be faster, not to mention quite a bit cheaper.
However, if your hotel is elsewhere in Taipei, then taking a taxi or car from the Airport means you won’t have to transfer at Taipei Main Station, by taxi or onto the Taipei MRT system. Taipei Main Station is huge and overwhelming.
Another reason to take a taxi or private car from the airport is if you arrive aften the MRT stops running – there are buses all night, but those are less convenient. Yet another might be that you have a lot of luggage, or you’re simply tired and want to go directly to your hotel.
I recommend arranging a private vehicle from the Airport to your hotel in Taipei. The cost is usually a little lower than a taxi. Another plus is that you can know the price and pay for it online before you even get there. This means you can use a credit card to pay online. In Taipei, taxis only take cash, or some take EasyCard, which you can only load with cash.
The price for a private vehicle from the Airport to Taipei depends on the location in Taipei and time of day. You can find out exactly how much your ride will cost before booking it by entering your hotel address and pick up time here on Klook. Choose one hour after your flight arrival time.
According to a poll I conducted on travelers in my Taiwan Travel Planning group, travelers usually pay anywhere from TWD 1000 to 1500 for a private vehicle from the airport to various places in the city, with 1000 to 1200 being the most common. Eastern Taipei, like Taipei 101 area, will cost more than western Taipei, like Ximending.
If you have lots of large luggage or more people, expect to pay 1400 to 1700 for a van. On the Klook page, you can request a van and child seats.
It is also very easy to take a regular yellow taxi from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei. These taxis are safe, always use the meter, and never rip people off. Just walk out the front door of the arrival hall and you’ll see the taxi queue.
On the meter, the drive from the Airport to Taipei will usually cost slightly more than if you arrange a private car in advance. They could also cost more if the drive takes longer due to slow traffic.
Expect to pay around TWD 1200 to 1500 for a yellow taxi from the airport to the city, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. For Uber, the price will vary. If you open the Uber app at the airport, it will say “UberAirport”. It will pick up from the same spot as the taxis.
If you have more than three adults and/or lots of luggage, you’ll need to wait for a taxi van to come around. It will cost something like TWD 1500 to 1800. If you definitely need a van, I suggest booking a private one in advance so you don’t have to wait for one.
You can also rent a car at Taoyuan International Airport. I recommend Klook because it searches multiple local providers at once. You can request a child seat and select different drop off locations across Taiwan.
For solo travelers, you can ride in a private vehicle for a lower price with this shared transfer deal.
You can also rent a car at Taoyuan International Airport, but I don’t really recommend driving in Taipei.
Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station
The Taoyuan Airport MRT is the fastest and most convenient way to travel from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei Main Station. It is relatively new (opened 2017), never too busy, and has lots of space for luggage.
From Terminal 2 to Taipei Main Station, the ride is 39 minutes (express train, softer chairs, more room for luggage) or 53 minutes (commuter train, more stops, hard plastic chairs just like a normal MRT). Every second train is express. The ride on either type to Taipei Main Station costs 150 TWD (children under 6 are free). You can see the Airport MRT times here.
From Terminal 1 to Taipei Main Station, the ride is 36 or 50 minutes and costs the same.
The first Airport MRT departs T2 at 6:04 AM (and T1 at 6:07 AM) and arrives at Taipei Main Station at 6:57 AM.
The last Airport MRT departs T2 at 11:35 PM (and T1 at 11:37 PM) and arrives at Taipei Main Station at 12:25 AM.
Usually, it takes about one hour or slightly less to get through Taoyuan International Airport. This means that if your flight arrives anytime between 5 AM and 10:30 PM, you should have no problem to take the Airport MRT.
If you have any luggage issues at the airport, or if many flights arrive at the same time, it could take longer than one hour to get through the airport. In rare cases, travelers have reported taking two hours or more to get through.
When you arrive at Taoyuan airport, you’ll collect your luggage and exit into the arrivals hall. Then, just follow the signs to the Airport MRT. Both T1 and T2 Arrival Halls are on the 1st (ground) floor. Go to the front and take the escalator or elevator down to the MRT station.
Note that there’s also an MRT stop called Airport Hotel (one stop after T2), which is for Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (see on Booking / Agoda). This is the official airport hotel. See more info in my guide to the best hotels near Taoyuan International Airport.
Paying for the Ride
In the Airport MRT station, you can pay for a single ride token at the purple machine (see image above) using cash only (no credit card). Scan that token on the sensor to enter the station. When you arrive at Taipei Main Station, you’ll deposit that token into the slot to exit the station.
You can also buy an EasyCard from the blue machine. The card will the TWD 500 (100 deposit and 400 for swiping). The machine takes cash only and has a button for English.
Another way is to buy an EasyCard from the EZfly counter (TWD 300, which includes 100 deposit and 200 for swiping, credit card accepted). You’ll see the counter just before entering the station. This counter offers more unique card designs.
machine or ticket window (also cash only). You can also purchase an EasyCard online with credit card for pickup when you arrive at the airport (note the opening times for pick up). Yet another option is to buy your Airport MRT tickets on Klook, which give you a small discount.
An EasyCard costs TWD 100 (non-refundable deposit), plus you need to load some money onto it. The Klook deal comes with the choice to add 200 or 400, so the total price will 300 or 500 – go for the larger amount, because you’ll use this card for all your MRT rides in Taipei and other cities in Taiwan.
Kids under 6 ride the Taoyuan and Taipei MRT free, while kids age 6 to 12 can buy a “Concessionaire Card”, only available from the station ticket window. It’s almost the same as an adult card, but only has some tiny discounts when transferring from one type of transportation to another.
Also Read: How to Buy Train Tickets in Taiwan
Getting on the MRT
Once you have the card and it is loaded with cash, swipe the card to enter the station and proceed to the platform. Make sure you catch the MRT in the direction of Taipei – it also goes in the opposite direction to Taoyuan City center and Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station.
Arriving at Taipei Main Statation
When you arrive at “Taipei Main Station”, you will need to swipe the card again to exit the Taoyuan Airport MRT system.
Note that the Airport MRT building is a totally different building than Taipei Main Station’s main train station building (where the TRA, HSR, and MRT are located), even though both buildings are called “Taipei Main Station” on GoogleMaps.
The building you will arrive at is here while the train station building is here.
Getting to Your Destination
If your hotel is around Taipei Main Station or in Ximending, it may be fastest to just walk to your hotel. Use GoogleMaps to calculate the walking time from the spot I linked to above to your hotel. If it’s 15 minutes or less, walking will be your best option.
If your hotel is more than 15 minute’s walk away or it is elsewhere in Taipei, the easiest thing to do would be to take a taxi from there. There is a taxi pick-up and drop-off point on B1 of the station so you don’t even need to go outside. Taxi rides in Taipei are relatively cheap and always on the meter.
A cheaper way would be to transfer from the Taoyuan MRT to the Taipei MRT. Because the two MRT systems are run by different cities, you’ll need to swipe out of the Taoyuan Airport MRT Station, then follow the signs through a series of underground tunnels to the Taipei MRT station.
The closest Taipei MRT station to where you’ll be arriving is actually Beimen station on the Green Line. The station code is G13. You can ride this MRT line only one stop for getting to popular Ximen (Ximending) neighborhood.
To get to it, watch for signs for the “Songshan–Xindian Line (Green Line). When you reach the top of a set of escalators in the station, you’ll need to do a 180-degree turn then walk through underground tunnels for about 10 minutes to reach it.
There are luggage lockers at the Airport MRT station and at Beimen Station (more on that below).
As you get closer, you’ll need to swipe in to the Taipei Main Station MRT station.
If you want to get to “Taipei Main Station” (MRT station) on the red or blue lines, you’ll also need to walk through a series of underground tunnels for about 10-15 minutes, but in the opposite direction of the green line.
Note that going this way will be more complicated because you’ll be entering the maze of underground tunnels and malls between Taipei Main Station (the main train station building). This is also the same way you’d walk if you wanted to connected to the TRC (regular train) or HSR (High Speed Rail) for traveling to other cities in Taiwan.
Follow the signs to Taipei MRT’s “Bannan Line” (Blue Line) and “Tamsui–Xinyi Line” (Red Line). At some point, you’ll have to turn right for the blue line or keep going through for the red line.
Taipei Main Station MRT Blue Line is also called BL12 and Red Line is called R10.
To find out which line you’ll need to take, check the Taipei MRT map or download the Go! Taipei Metro app, which has a high definition MRT map and route planner.
In total, it will take you 10-15 minutes to get to either station platform. Make sure to board the train heading in the correct direction. Digital signs in the station indicated the terminal station of the oncoming train and the arrival time of the next one.
Using the Luggage Lockers
If you have very large luggage, it is not recommended to take the Taipei MRT at rush hour, when the trains can become extremely crowded. You will pass multiple lockers before getting to the station, mostly directly below the Taipei Main Station (train station) building.
If you put your luggage in a locker, you can pay with cask or EasyCard. You’ll need to pay for the first 3 hours, then pay more when you pick up the luggage if necessary. Maximum is 24 hours and the lockers are not accessible from midnight to 6 AM.
The lockers have English. Make sure to keep the receipt, which will have a passport for picking up the luggage. Also write or take a photo of the locker station number (326) in the above photo and your individual locker number (like 12門) above. Take note of a landmark so you can find these lockers again. For example, take the nearest stairs or escalator up to the station and note the nearest 7-11 or station Exit number.
You can find lockers at the Airport MRT station (when arriving at Taipei Main Station) and on B1 of Taipei Main Station (the main train station building). There are also lockers in these MRT stations in Taipei, every HSR station in Taiwan, and most major TRA (regular train) stations in Taiwan.
As for size, there are at least 2-3 different locker companies and their locker sizes vary. The ones in the first photo above were “medium” size and fit my carry-on luggage. Some larger ones like the second photo above would fit larger luggage.
By Airport Bus
Kuo Kuang bus company operates Bus #1819 from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station around the clock. They cut out the late-night buses during COVID, but now they are back again.
The Airport bus is a little slower than the Airport MRT. It takes about one hour to reach Taipei Main Station.
The bus arrives at Kuo Kuang Bus Station, which is a separate building at the northeast side of the big Taipei Main train station building, whereas the Airport MRT station lies to the west of the main train station building.
The bus is a little cheaper than the Airport MRT. It is TWD 135 per adult, or TWD 15 cheaper than the Airport MRT. Children aged 0-3 are free, while ages 3-12 are half price. You can buy the bus ticket on Klook, but only return tickets are possible, so you’ll have to ride the bus both ways.
The main reason to take the Airport bus is if your flight arrives later than 10:30 PM or earlier than 5 AM, so you can’t take the Airport MRT, but also you don’t want to spend the money on a taxi.
To see the bus times, click this link, then click “timetable”, and “To Kuo Kuang Motor Transportation Taipei Station” to see the departure times from Taoyuan Airport T2. If you’re getting on at T1 (actually the first stop), just subtract 5 minutes. The bus station website doesn’t work in some countries, so I’ve also shared a photo of the times from T2 above (second column).
When you arrive at Taoyuan airport and exit into the Arrivals Hall, the bus station ticket windows are at the front left corner of the hall – just follow the “bus station” signs.
You can buy your Airport Bus ticket online before arriving, or just buy it when you get there. The buses are comfortable, have free WiFi, A/C, and lots of luggage storage room. There are no toilets on the bus.
If you want to take a taxi upon arriving at Taipei Main Station, there’s a main road where you can catch them just behind the station. You’ll also notice a large queue of taxis in front of the station, which are headed for the front of the big train station building, so you can also walk over there to catch one.
If you want to connect to the Taipei MRT, when you arrive at the bus station, go outside and turn right around the corner to find Exit M1, or walk into any door of the large train station building just to the right, go downstairs, then follow the signs underground to Taipei MRT Bannan Line.
Taipei Main Station is a huge maze, so I can’t even try to give directions once you get underground, but just follow the signs and you will get there!
As I described in the last section, you’ll need to swipe an EasyCard or buy a single ride with cash to enter the MRT station. Follow the signs to the platform for the Blue Line or Red Line.
If you want to connect to the TRA (regular intercity train) or HSR (High Speed Rail) for traveling to other cities in Taiwan, just enter the large train station building to the right of the bus station. You can buy tickets on the main floor, and trains depart from the floors directly below. There are many signs.
Bus to Songshan Airport or Other Places in Taipei
If you have a connecting flight at Taipei City Center’s Songshan Airport (TPE), you can ride bus Kuo Kuang Bus 1840 or the slightly slower 1841 from Taoyuan Airport to Songshan Airport. You can see the bus schedule picture above (3rd column Songshan to Taoyuan Airport, 4th column Taoyuan Airport to Songshan).
The ride takes 50 minutes (1840) or 60 minutes (1841). You can see the times by clicking the above links, then click “Timetable” then click “To Songshan Airport”. It is unlikely that your check-in luggage will be transferred for you, but confirm with your airline when checking in.
Other buses from the airport to Taipei include Kuo Kuang Bus 1819A, which includes a stop at Yuanshan MRT station before reaching Taipei Main Station, Evergreen Bus 5203 to Zhongxiao Fuxing in Eastern Taipei, Kuo Kuang Bus 1843 to Nangang Exhibition Center in far eastern Taipei, and CitiAir Bus 1960 to Taipei City Hall Bus Station (where you can catch buses to cities in Yilan, but Yilan buses also leave from Taipei Main Station).
You may also notice a CityAir Bus 1961 to Ximending, but there’s only a couple per day and it is quite slow (up to 1.5 hours) so I don’t recommend it.
There also buses from Taoyuan International Airport to Taoyuan, Zhongli, and Zhongli Transit Station (also in Taoyuan City), Banqiao and Xindian (New Taipei City), Jiaoxi, Yilan City, and Luodong (Yilan county), and Hsinchu.
Some of them only have a few per day, so check their times here. If the time isn’t good, it will be faster for you to go to Taoyuan by Airport MRT (opposite direction from Taipei), or go to Taipei Main Station first then take the MRT (Banqiao) or TRA (regular train) for Yilan or Hsinchu.
How to Get from Taipei Main Station to Taoyuan Airport
Going from Taipei Main Station back to Taipei Airport, all the instructions I described above are the same, but in reverse.
By Taxi or Private Vehicle
Arranging a private vehicle back to the airport can be a very nice way to end your trip. It will be stress-free and you won’t have to worry about hauling all your luggage, souvenirs, and Taiwanese snacks you bought onto the MRT or bus.
You may also choose this if you flight departs later than about 2:30 AM, or earlier than about 8:30 AM. For 2:30 to 8:30 AM departures, the Airport MRT won’t get you there on time. The Airport bus will, but it’s less convenient.
Most hotels in Taipei can arrange a taxi to the airport for you. If you have a very early or late departure, it’s better if the hotel has a 24-hour front desk for this option, just in case the taxi they order for you doesn’t show up. If you’re staying in an Airbnb, you may not want to rely on the host for this.
It’s also very easy to flag any taxi on any main street in Taipei. Just go to any main road, at any time of day or night, and you won’t have to wait long. Available taxis have a little red light in the front window.
However, not every taxi will be willing to go to the airport, some taxis are a little dirty, and this won’t be a great option if you have a lot of luggage.
Uber is yet another option for going to the airport. Ubers in Taipei are generally very nice and clean, but their prices will go up at peak times.
Last but not least, solo travelers can try this shared transfer deal to go back to the airport.
By Airport MRT
As I described above, you may be able to walk to the Taipei Main Station Airport MRT station
If you’re staying near Taipei Main Station or in Ximending. From other neighborhoods in Taipei, ride the MRT if you don’t have too much luggage, or just hop in a taxi to the Airport MRT Station.
The first MRT to the airport departs Taipei Main Station at 6:00 AM and arrives at the airport at 6:36 AM / 6:39 AM (T1 / T2).
The last MRT to the airport departs Taipei Main Station at 11:36 PM and arrives at the airport at 12: 25 AM / 12:27 AM (T1 / T2). Both cost TWD 150 per person, and under 6 is free.
Arriving two hours early is enough for departing flights at Taoyuan International Airport. So if your flight is departing from 8:30 AM or later, or before 2:30 AM, you will be fine.
Arriving at the airport MRT station, you can take the escalators or elevator up to the Departure Hall on the 3rd floor.
By Airport Bus
If you’re staying around Taipei Main Station, consider walking to Kuo Kuang Bus Station for the bus ride back to the airport. Note that’s it’s a little further from Ximending district (20 to 30 minutes from most hotels) than the Airport MRT station.
From other places in Taipei, either ride a taxi or take the MRT, and make sure to factor in enough time for traffic jams, MRT transfers, etc. If you have lots of luggage, go for a taxi.
Budget around 15 minutes to find your way from Taipei Main Station MRT station to the Kuo Kuang Bus Station, and a little time to buy your ticket, too. You can buy also your ticket online in advance.
The ride to the airport takes around one hour and the ticket costs TWD 135. You can see the bus times here. Click “Timetable” then see them times under “To Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2”. If you’re going to Terminal 1, the times are the same, and the bus will stop at T1 first.
I only recommend taking the bus to the airport if you have a flight departing between 2:30 AM and 8:30 AM, when the Airport MRT isn’t running, and you don’t want to spend the money on a taxi or private vehicle to the airport.
Other Tips about Travel between Taipei and Taoyuan Airport
- After you arrive, consider joining one of these free Taipei walking tours.
- Learn about Taiwan’s currency and whether you need a visa for Taiwan.
- If you’re arriving very late at night or early in the morning, almost no hotels in Taipei allow early check in. You’ll have to pay for an extra night or wait until check-in time (usually 2 to 4 PM). Amba hotel in Ximending allows 9 AM check-in for an additional half-day rate.
- If you’re arriving very late, choose a hotel with a 24-hour front desk. There are several of these, especially in Ximending, such as Hotel Puri (see on Booking / Agoda), Ximen Airline Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda), or Amba Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda). All major international hotels also have 24-hour front desk, like Grand Hyatt, Howard Plaza, and so on.
- If you need to store your luggage until check in time, ask your hotel if they will take it. There are also many large lockers in Taipei Main Station. The price is TWD 20 to 70 per 3 hours, depending on the size (largest size is 90 X 90 X 40 inches).
- For overnight storage or for larger items, so you can store them at the Taipei Station Baggage Service Center just outside the station.
- If you need to check out from your hotel but your flight isn’t until late at night, you can self check in your luggage at the luggage drop in Taipei Main Station’s Airport MRT station, but only for certain airlines. The luggage will be sent to the airport for you.
- You can only do this from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM for flights departing that day. You’ll need to do self-check in first online and check the luggage in at least three hours before your flight. Only hard case luggage is allowed.
- Airlines that currently do this are Eva Air (see guidelines), China Airlines (see guidelines and video), Cathay Pacific, Air Asia, Starlux, and domestic carriers Mandarin Airline and Uni Air.