How to Get From Taoyuan Airport to Taipei in 2023

If you’re planning a trip to Taipei, one of the first things you’ll need to figure out is how to get from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei city center.

While the airport is located a little outside the city in Taoyuan County, there are a bunch of convenient and affordable transportation options available that allow you to easily access Taipei City in less than an hour. Whether you want to take the Airport MRT, a bus, a taxi, or a private transfer – getting to Taipei from Taoyuan International Airport is an absolute breeze.

Here’s my quick how-to guide to help you figure out which option works best for you!

Taoyuan airport to taipei — Getting from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City is surprisingly easy.

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Table of Contents

Taipei Must-Reads

Plan the perfect trip with my fully flexible 1-5 Days Taipei Itinerary and these Taipei travel tips.

Figure out where to base yourself and find the city’s best hotels in my detailed Where to Stay in Taipei guide.

Read my guides on fun things to do in Taipei at night or get out of the city on one of these awesome day trips.

Getting from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei City: 4 Best Ways to Travel

Taking the Airport MRT

The fastest way to get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei is by Airport MRT. The ride takes roughly 35 minutes and is a great stress-free option if you want to get downtown quickly and cheaply.

A single-journey ticket only costs TWD 150 to Taipei Main Station, where you can easily connect to other train and subway lines to access different corners of the city. Tickets can be bought on-site or through the Taoyuan Metro app (IOS). Alternatively, grab a discounted MRT ticket here on Klook. If you already have an Easy Card, you can also use it to tap and go.

While taking the Taoyuan Airport MRT is the quickest option to get into the city, you should know it doesn’t operate all day. The first train leaves Taoyuan Aiport at 5:59 am, and the last is at 11:27 pm.

Another thing to note is that there are two lines, an Express Line (the purple line) and a Commuter Line (the blue line). Make sure you get a ticket for the Express Line. It has wireless charging and free wifi onboard and is much faster than the Commuter Line. The Commuter Line takes about 50 minutes to get into the city and stops at every station along the line.

Both terminals at Taoyuan Airport have MRT stations, making it convenient to hop on a train no matter where you arrive. The MRT can be accessed near the B1 Food Court in Terminal 1 and beside the B2 Food Court in Terminal 2. Many signs point the way in both English and Chinese, so don’t worry about getting lost.

See the Taoyuan Metro website for more details on routes, timetables, or facilities.

Taking a Private Transfer

If you’re looking for the most convenient option to travel between Taoyuan Airport and Taipei City, booking a private transfer is for you.

Since you’ll be picked up right at the airport and taken directly to your hotel, it’s the least stressful way to kickstart your Taipei itinerary. Besides not having to worry about any of the transport hassles, you won’t have to tug your luggage up and down all the escalators at the MRT stations.

The only downside of taking a private transfer is that it is a tad expensive, especially if traveling Taipei solo or on a shoestring. Generally, a private car can cost anywhere between TWD 1000-1500, depending on where you’re going in the city and the type of vehicle.

However, since you’ll pre-book the ride, you’ll know exactly how much it will cost. Another plus is that there are actually several easy ways to schedule and book a private transfer online. My go-to provider is Klook. The booking process is super easy, and they offer 1 hour waiting time. Book your private transfer here.

Taking the Bus from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station

The next option on this list for getting to Taipei from Taoyuan is taking the bus.

While taking the bus takes the longest time to travel between the city and the airport, it is the cheapest transport option on this list. So if you’re traveling on a tight budget, this is your best bet. The ride generally takes about 55 minutes, but remember that you might need to wait around for the bus unless you’ve planned everything to a T.

Several buses travel daily between the airport and the city, so some planning is recommended. Here are all the deets.

Getting to Taipei Main Station from Taoyuan Airport

If you’re traveling between Taoyuan Airport and Taipei Main Station, Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819 runs every hour from 5:20 am to 11:50 pm. A one-way ticket costs TWD 140, and you can also pre-book a return ticket here in advance via Klook.

If you missed bus #1819, you could also take bus# 1819A. Note that this bus only runs between 8:50 am and 7:50 pm. The journey takes around 70 minutes.

Yet another option is CityAir Bus 1961A, which is slightly cheaper at TWD 100 for a single journey ticket. The first bus leaves Taoyuan at 05:55 am, and the last bus is 11 pm.

Getting to Xinyi District from Taoyuan Airport

For those staying around Taipei 101 or Taipei City Hall, your best bet is to take CityAir Bus 1960. That way, you’ll bypass Taipei Main Station. The first bus leaves at 6 am, and the last is at 11:10 pm. The ride costs TWD 145 per way.

Insider Tip: Remember that you’ll need the exact cash for the bus. Alternatively, make sure you buy an Easy Card upon arrival at one of the convenience stores in the airport so that you can tap and go on the bus.

Taking a Taxi from Taoyuan Airport

If you don’t have time to book a private transfer or arrive when the MRT isn’t running, don’t worry. Another straightforward way to travel between the Taoyuan Airport and downtown Taipei is by taxi. Both terminals have taxi counters where you can book a cab on the spot. Having your destination’s address ready in Chinese is a good idea. That way, there won’t be any confusion, and more importantly, you won’t have to stress about the language barrier.

The ride to Taipei city center from Taoyuan Aiport takes roughly 1 hour and generally costs around TWD 1200-1500, depending on where you’re going. While taking a taxi directly from the airport isn’t the cheapest way to get to your hotel in Taipei, it’s completely hassle-free as you won’t need to worry about any logistics. It’s also great for those traveling with lots of luggage.

If you prefer to schedule a taxi in advance and know exactly what you need to pay for the ride, Uber (IOS) and FindTaxi (IOS) are the most popular apps in Taiwan to do that.

Getting to Taipei from Taoyuan in Conclusion

Now you have all the transportation options to travel from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei!

Whether you’re looking for convenience or traveling on a budget – there’s a transport option for you! And hopefully, this guide has helped you decide how to go from Taoyuan to Taipei!

Well, that wraps up this transport guide! All that’s left now is to get on that flight! If you have any other ideas on how to get downtown, let me know in the comments below!