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Getting Around: Public Transport in Taiwan




Whether you are hopping between cafes in Taipei or planning a high-speed trip to the southern tip of the island, you don't need a car. Taiwan is connected by transport web that is clean and almost always on time.


This guide covers how to master Taipei streets and how to zip between different cities.


💳 One Card to Rule Them All: EasyCard


Before you do anything, buy an EasyCard (悠遊卡) at any convenience store or MRT station.

  • How to top up: Go to the counter at any 7-11 / Family Mart or use the ticket machine inside a metro station.

  • Why you need it: It’s your ticket for the MRT, city buses, YouBikes, and even local trains and yellow taxis. You can even use it to pay at convenience store or Starbucks!

  • Pro Tip: Get the cute ones! Don't buy it from a station, the cute ones (like below) are often sold at any 7-11 / Family Mart.





🚄 Traveling Between Cities (Inter-City Rail)


If you’re leaving Taipei to explore other cities on the west coast, you have 2 main choices.

1. High-Speed Rail (HSR): Highly recommended!

This is the "Bullet Train" that runs along the West side of the island (Taipei to Kaohsiung).


  • Speed: 300 km/h (186 mph). You can get from Taipei to Tainan in 90 minutes.

  • How to Buy a Ticket: Use T-EX App / ticket machines at a HSR station / the ticket counter

  • Reserved vs. Non-Reserved Seats:

    • Reserved Seats: You have a guaranteed car and seat number (e.g., Car 5, 12A). Best for weekends or long trips.

    • Non-Reserved Seats: Valid only for Cars 10–12. It’s first-come, first-served.

  • Side Notes: You will find the trains extremely quiet, so you might also want to keep voices low. It feels better than an airplane - more leg rooms and perfectly on time.


2. Local Trains (TRA):

This is the traditional railway that circles the entire island, including the rugged and beautiful East Coast.


  • Pros: Cheaper, and always takes you right to the city centre, since some HSR stations are located on the outskirts.

  • Cons: A lot slower, and not as quiet as HSR.




🚇 Inside Taipei:


  1. The MRT (The Metro)

Taipei MRT might not be the biggest or flashiest, but it's often ranked among the cleanest, most reliable, and easiest to navigate.


  • The Golden Rule: Absolutely no eating, drinking, or chewing gum once you pass the yellow floor line. Not even water! The fines are real, which is why the stations stay spotless.

  • Buy Ticket: Either use your EasyCard or buy one-way ticket at the machines.

  • Single Ticket: TWD$20 – $65 / £0.5 – £1.6 (distance-based).

  • Also Offers: 24/48/72-Hour Pass, at TWD$180/280/380 (£4.5/£7/£9.5)

  • Fact: Every station has clean restrooms. If you are exploring the city and suddenly need to find toilet, just run into a MRT station.


  1. The City Bus


  • Tapping: You must tap your EasyCard when you get on AND when you get off.

  • Cost: TWD$15 – $45 (£0.38 – £1.13)



  1. YouBike (The Yellow Bikes)


  • How to use: Use the YouBike 2.0 app to scan the QR code or tap a registered EasyCard on the bike's console.

  • Cost: TWD$10 (£0.25) per 30 minutes for the first 4 hours

  • The "2.0E" (Orange ones): These are electric-assist.


  1. Uber / Bolt / Yellow Taxis



 
 
 

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