Planning a trip to Taiwan’s oldest city? Tainan is a must-visit whether you’re craving street food, exploring ancient temples, or just soaking up the historic charm. There’s also loads to do! But first—how to get there from Taipei?
Tainan sits about 310 km southwest of Taipei, but don’t worry, getting there is easier than you think! With three main options (high-speed rail (HSR), regular train (TRA), and bus) it’s easy to choose an option that suits your budget, schedule and travel style.
Here’s my quick guide to help you decide how to travel between these two cities easily!
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How to Get to Tainan from Taipei
By high-speed rail
If your Taiwan itinerary is already jam-packed with things to do or you hate wasting time on transport, traveling between Taipei and Tainan by high-speed rail train is your best bet. It’s by far the quickest and most comfortable way to travel between the two cities, only taking 1.5-2 hours (depending on which train you take).
The Taiwan High-Speed Rail (or THSR) has dozens of trains between the two cities, departing every 30-40 minutes from Taipei Main Station. It’s also possible to catch a train at Nangang (north of the main station) or Banqiao (south of the main station) in Taipei. However, since Taipei Main Station is the central transport hub in Taipei, let’s stick to that as our starting point.
The first train leaves Taipei Main Station for Tainan HSR Station at 6:26 am, and the last one is at 10:16 pm. Tickets generally cost TWD 1350 for a reserved seat and TWD 1305 for non-reserved seats. Business-class tickets are also available at TWD 2230. Unless you need a bit of extra legroom, there’s really no need to splurge on a business class seat — the regular seats are just as nice and comfortable!
If you’re traveling on weekends or during special holidays it’s a good idea to grab HSR tickets (only available to tourists) in advance because reserved seats fill up quickly. And since each train only has three cars (Car 10-12) dedicated to non-reserved seats, getting one is not always guaranteed. You can also pre-book tickets online via the THSR website (up to 28 days in advance) or buy them in person at any HSR station across the island.
Klook.comGetting into town from the HSR Station
The only disadvantage of taking the HSR to Tainan, besides being expensive, is that the station is not in the city center. Tainan’s HSR Station is located in Guiren District, just on the city’s outskirts. So if you do choose to take the bullet train, note that you’ll need to take either a bus, train or taxi to get into town.
- Taxi: There are plenty of taxis at Exit 3 of the station. A ride to the downtown area costs roughly TWD 400-500 and takes about 30 minutes.
- TSHR Shuttle Bus: Another option is to take the free THSR Shuttle Bus. Buses H31 and H62 both travel to downtown Tainan and depart from Exit 2.
- Train: Shalun Station (TRA) is located next to the HSR station and has frequent trains to Tainan’s main train station. The ride takes roughly 30 minutes and only costs TWD 25. Access the station either via Exit 1 or Exit 2.
By train
If travel time is not an issue for you, then another option to get there is by regular train.
Taiwan Railways (TRA) operates loads of trains daily between Taipei Main Station and Tainan Station. If you’re staying downtown, you’ll have plenty of buses and taxis ready to transport you to all corners of the city. Although not an absolute must, I usually prefer booking a hotel near the train station so that I don’t have to waste even more time getting to my accommodation.
Although taking the normal train will take much longer than the HSR, the ride is smooth and comfortable. And since trains in Taiwan are frequent and rarely late, it’s a very convenient mode of transport.
Several train lines run between the two cities, with Puyuma Express trains being the fastest. Other options include Tze-Chiang Limited Express and the Chu-Kuang Express. While Tze-Chiang Limited Express and the Chu-Kuang Express are generally slightly cheaper than the Puyuma Express trains, you should know they often take much longer. A Puyuma train to Tainan takes just over 3 hours, whereas a train ride on the other two can take anywhere from 4 to 6.5 hours, depending on which one you take.
You can buy a ticket right at the train station or online via the TRA website. But just a head’s up, it’s not always possible to get a seat on the train if you wait until the last minute! So I recommend buying your tickets at least a few days in advance. If you’re a planner, you’ll be happy to know that you can make a reservation up to 28 days in advance.
So how much is a train ticket from Taipei to Tainan? Well, that depends on which train you take and what time of day you travel. But in general, you can expect to pay anywhere from TWD 569 to TWD 738. For more details on prices and schedules, see the website (above) or download the TRA app—it’s one of my top Taiwan travel apps. I promise it’ll make your life so much easier!
Klook.comBy Bus
The last option, and also the cheapest option on this list, is the bus. While you’ll be saving quite a few bucks using this option, you should know it’s also the longest mode of transport! Journey times can also be unpredictable, especially during peak traffic hours.
A bus ticket from Taipei to Tainan typically costs around TWD 450 to NTD 480, making it much cheaper than the HSR or normal train. But, know that the trip usually takes about 4 to 5 hours.
You can purchase a ticket right at Taipei Bus Station (right next to Taipei Main Station). Just make sure to check the bus schedules well in advance. Both Ubus and Kuo Kuang Bus have several buses traveling between Taipei Bus Station and Tainan Bus Station each day, but it’s always a good idea to get to the bus station a bit earlier to buy a ticket.
The main bus station is roughly a 15-minute walk northwest of the main train station. If you don’t want to walk there, you can also take a taxi or a local bus. Buses leave every 20 minutes, between 8 am and 10 pm, and a ride costs TWD 26. The easiest way to check real-time schedules is on Google Maps, but you can also find more info on Tainan City Bus schedules here.
Final Thoughts: HSR vs Train vs Bus—Which is Best?
While it is possible to fly and even drive to Tainan, these options won’t be nearly as fast or convenient as the transport methods listed in this post. If you want the fastest and most comfortable ride, go for the HSR. The train is a solid choice if you’re looking to balance price and convenience. And if you’re on a budget and don’t mind a longer trip, the bus is your best bet.
Personally, I always take the HSR—I hate wasting time in transit and would rather get to my destination quickly so I have more time to explore!
Well, there you have it – three easy ways to travel between Tainan and Taipei! Which transport option do you prefer? Drop your comment below—I’d love to hear about your experience!
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Hi Mariza,
Thank you for sharing these 3 different ways to get to Tainan.
As we are arriving at Taoyuan Terminal 2, which is the best way to get to Tainan from this terminal?
hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you,
Miko
Hey Miko, you can take the Airport MRT (blue line) to Taoyuan Station (marked A18). It stops at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. From there, just hop on the HSR (high speed rail) to Tainan. Note the HSR Station is a little outside of town, so you’d need to catch a taxi or a bus to your hotel in Tainan. Hope this helps!
Thank you for the detailed info. So helpful, especially the note on the disadvantage of taking HSR in Tainan.
Thanks May – glad it helps! 🙂