If you’re spending a bit of time in Taipei and want to get out of the city, you should definitely take a trip to the charming mountain village of Jiufen. While Jiufen is located less than 40km from Taipei, getting from Taipei to Jiufen can take up quite a bit of traveling time, especially if you don’t plan properly.
Luckily, that’s where this guide comes in! In this guide, I’ll show you the easiest ways to get to Jiufen from Taipei so that you can spend less time traveling and more time enjoying this beautiful little gem!
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Table of Contents
Before you go to Jiufen
Jiufen is a popular day trip from Taipei, and there are loads of cool things to do. However, before you hit this scenic little town, here are a few tips to help make your trip a whole lot easier.
- Get an Easy Card: Whether you’re only traveling in Taipei or exploring more of Taiwan, it’s a good idea to grab an Easy Card (Taiwan’s tap-and-go transport card). By doing so, you won’t need to stand in long queues to buy train or bus tickets.
- Pack an umbrella: The weather in Jiufen can be quite unpredictable, and rain is not uncommon. Make sure you take an umbrella when visiting.
- Book accommodation in advance: Most people only spend a few hours in Jiufen, but it’s worth staying overnight. We stayed at Jiufen Ocean Theory and the views were breathtaking!
- Reserve a spot at the best Teahouse in Jiufen: There are loads of teahouses in Jiufen, but if you want to enjoy a cuppa with the most incredible views imaginable, best to reserve a seat in advance. Book your spot at Skyline Teahouse or Jiufen Teahouse.
- Join a walking tour: To really get aquatinted with the best of Jiufen and learn a little more about the town’s gold mining history, joining a walking tour is your best bet. The tour kicks off at 14:00 (in Jiufen) and lasts 2.5hrs.
- Rent a traditional Chinese outfit: Take your Jiufen trip to a whole new level of awesome by renting a qipao for the day. It’s also a really fun way to add a whole new dimension to your Jiufen tour!
- Wear comfortable shoes: Make sure you’re wearing comfortable walking shoes as you’ve got a lot of steps to climb! Read my Taiwan packing list for more tips.
- And lastly, don’t forget your camera!
Now that you know the basics, let’s dive right into this guide on how to go from Taipei to Jiufen! Ready? Let’s go!
How to get from Taipei to Jiufen
There are quite a few ways to get to Jiufen from Taipei – whether that be taking a train, catching a bus, or joining a day tour. However, not all of them will save you time or money.
So, what is the best way to travel to Jiufen? Well, that will ultimately depend on your itinerary, budget, and of course, traveling style. With that said, I’ve included every single way to get to Jiufen from Taipei to help make your choice a bit easier.
At the end of this post, I’ve also included info on how to get back to Taipei, as well as how to get to Shifen from Jiufen.
Join a Day Tour to Jiufen
There are loads of cool places to explore near Jiufen, and one of the easiest ways to pack a couple of them in on one trip is with a day tour.
Klook has several great tour options that will help you explore Taiwan’s scenic north coast in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle without the headache of planning a thing!
The most popular tour and one that I highly recommend is the Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen Day Tour. The 9-hour tour kicks off at Taipei Main Station at 8:45 am. Along the way, you’ll get to see all the awesome rock formations at Yehliu Geopark, explore the colorful alleyways of Jiufen and end the day by releasing a sky lantern at Shifen Old Street.
If you’re stretched for time and looking for something a bit shorter, consider these half-day Jiufen tour options:
- Jiufen & Raohe Night Market Tour: If you’re a foodie looking to sample the best street food in Taiwan, this Jiufen tour is just the answer. The 4.5hr tour will take you from the winding alleyways of Jiufen to Taipei’s best night market, Raohe Night Market. Along the way, you’ll get to sample lip-smackingly delicious Taiwanese street food. Check availability here.
- Jiufen Village & the Northeast Coast is the perfect choice for those who want to get a closer look at Taiwan’s scenic coastline. Besides Jiufen, this 4-hour tour also stops at a few other hidden gems nearby, like Bitou Cape and Nanya. Check availability or book here.
Getting from Taipei to Jiufen by bus
Traveling time: 80 minutes | Cost: NT$90
The easiest and cheapest way to get to Jiufen is by taking a direct express bus from Taipei. Bus 965 travels between Banqiou and Jinguashi, stopping at Banqiao Bus Station, Wanhua Railway Station, MRT Ximen Station, MRT Beimen Station, Ruifang Railway Station, and Jiufen Old Street along the way.
The journey takes about 80 minutes, and you don’t need to transfer like on some other buses to Jiufen. The bus operates between 6 am – 9 pm on weekdays and 7 am – 9 pm on weekends or holidays. See bus 965 schedule here. During peak hours, buses come every 30-40 minutes and every 40-60 minutes during off-peak hours.
If you’ve missed bus 965, there are a few other buses that can still get you to Jiufen, like bus 1062. That said, expect traveling times to take around 2 hours and loads of people queuing to get on the bus. You can catch this Jiufen bus at Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station. The operating hours are 7:15 am – 9:20 pm on weekdays and 7:05 am – 8:50 pm on weekends or holidays. See the bus 1062 schedule here (only in Chinese).
Taking the train from Taipei to Jiufen
Traveling time: 1-2 hrs | Cost: NT$49-76 depending on the train you take, while the bus ride costs NT$15.
There is no direct train from Taipei to Jiufen. Instead, you’ll need to take a train to Ruifang and then bus the remainder of the journey to Jiufen.
Taking the Train from Taipei to Ruifang
From Taipei Main Station, catch any northbound train (TRA) to Ruifang (check train schedules here). If you have an Easy Card, there’s no need to buy a ticket as you can simply tap in and out. Just make sure to double-check the stops on Google Maps or ask a staff member to make sure you get on the right train. Whatever you do, do not get on a train to Keelung as these do not stop in Ruifang.
Trains to Ruifang depart every 20-50 minutes or so from Taipei Main Station. Tickets cost less than NT$80 depending on the train you take.
- TZE Express Trains to Ruifang depart roughly every hour from Taipei Main Station and a ticket costs NT$76. The first train is at 6:23, with trains running until 20:10. The ride can take anywhere from 35 to 50 minutes.
- Fuxing Shuttle trains leave from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang more frequently, but traveling time is slightly longer, taking up to an hour in some cases. Trains come every 20-50 minutes and cost NT$49. The first train departs at 5:26, while the last train is at 22:45.
Taking the Bus from Ruifang to Jiufen
Once you arrive in Ruifang, simply follow the Jiufen bus signage. The bus stop is about a 3-minute walk down Section 3 Mingdeng Road just past the Ruifang Police Station. You can catch bus 788, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 856, or bus 965 from here to Jiufen Old Street.
Here’s a closer look at the timings for each of these buses to Jiufen:
- Bus 788 to Jinguashih (Gold Ecological Park) arrives every 30 minutes and costs NT$15. You’ll ride 11 stops, which should take around 14 minutes. See the bus schedule here (only in Chinese).
- Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 856 arrives every hour and costs NT$15. You’ll only ride two stops, which will take about 8 minutes. (See bus timetable here).
- Bus 965 to Gua Shan arrives every hour and costs NT$15. You’ll have to ride ten stops, taking roughly 12 minutes.
After you exit the bus, it’s a short stroll to the old street’s entrance (right next to the 7-11).
Getting to Jiufen by Private Transfer
Traveling time: 1-1.5 hrs | Cost: NT$ 1000
The most convenient way to get from Taipei to Jiufen is by private transfer. However, I would only recommend this option if you are traveling in a group as it is a lot more expensive than other options in this guide.
A one-way transfer between Taipei and Jiufen costs NT$1000, and both 5 and 9 seater vehicles are available. The best part? You’ll be picked up right at your hotel, so you won’t need to bother with figuring out any other logistics. Just be sure to check the fine print as there is a surcharge for service areas outside the city center. (See package details or book here).
Taking a Taxi to Jiufen
Traveling time: 1-1.5 hrs | Cost: NT$ 1200 -1700 depending on pick-up location & time of day.
The least stressful way to get from Taipei to Jiufen is by taxi. With that said, though, it is also the most expensive option. Taking a yellow cab (which you can flag down on the street or ask your hotel to call for you) will cost around NT$1200 more or less. If you must take a taxi to Jiufen, it’s a good idea to check on the Uber App first to see if you can find a cheaper rate. An Uber can cost anywhere between NT$860-NT$1700, depending on the time of day and your pick-up point.
How to Get to Shifen from Jiufen
Combining a trip to Jiufen and Shifen is a popular option among most travelers. While Shifen is only about 20km from Jiufen, getting there can be tricky, especially if you don’t have a car.
The easiest way to access Jiufen and Shifen in a day is to join an organized tour. With that said, though, if you’d like to explore the area at your own pace, its best to rely on public transport.
There is no direct train or bus between Shifen and Jiufen. Instead, you’ll need to take a bus back to Ruifang Station and then train to Shifen. You can take any of the buses mentioned above (788, 856, or 965) to get there from Jiufen. Once you arrive at Ruifang, it’s quite easy to get to Shifen, but you’ll need to time your visit as trains are rather sporadic. You can read all about getting to Shifen from Ruifang Station (or Taipei) in this detailed guide.
Of course, another option is to get a taxi from Jiufen to Ruifang Station. There is a dedicated taxi stand near the Jiufen Old Street main entrance, right in front of the lookout pavilion. We opted for this option as we wanted to see the Golden Waterfalls (one of Taiwan’s top waterfalls) before we went back to Ruifang. We had to negotiate with the driver to wait for us, and even though the ride ended up costing NT$500, it was still worth it.
How to go back to Taipei from Jiufen
To get back to Taipei from Jiufen, simply retrace the same steps you took to get there. Make sure to time your visit, though, as both buses and trains only run certain time slots.
Direct Bus: The last bus to Taipei from Jiufen is at 21:30, but I strongly recommend getting an earlier bus to avoid being stranded in Jiufen. The buses work on a first-come-first-serve basis and get incredibly crowded after 5 pm.
Bus & Train: If you’re taking the bus back to Ruifang and then catching a train, again make sure to leave enough time in your schedule. The last train to Taipei from Ruifang is at 22:23 (Fuxing Shuttle) and 23:19 (TZE Express), but buses fill up quickly after 6 pm.
Taxi: If you really don’t feel like bothering with public transport, I highly recommend booking a private transfer to get you back to Taipei. While it will be a lot more expensive than taking the train or bus, it is still cheaper than taking a yellow taxi from Jiufen to Taipei (NT$2500 fixed rate).
Thanks for reading my guide on how to get from Taipei to Jiufen!
Jiufen is a charming little village that definitely deserves a spot on your list of things to do while visiting Taipei. If you’re looking for more fun things to do in or near Taipei, check out these posts:
Well, that wraps up this guide on how to get to Jiufen. If you feel I’ve missed anything or have an easier way to get to Jiufen from Taipei, let me know in the comments below!
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